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Amnesty International Report 2007
Amnesty
Amnesty
The politics of fear dominated 2006. Unprincipled leaders deliberately
manipulated fear to create divisions, stiﬂe dissent and evade
International accountability. Governments fostered a climate of intolerance that
Report 2007 fuelled conﬂict and human rights abuses, creating a rights vacuum
the state
of theworld’s
human rights
which armed groups and corporations exploited for their own ends.
This Amnesty International Report documents the state of
human rights in 153 countries during 2006. It reveals a world ravaged
International
Report 2007
by armed conﬂict, repression and discrimination, where women are at
constant risk of violence, where entire communities are mired
in poverty and social exclusion. The report also points to the crucial
achievements of human rights activists around the world
the state
in countering these abuses and tackling impunity.
The human rights movement is a bulwark against fear. It stands
for unity over division, solidarity over self-interest, hope over despair.
It is founded on the commitment and collaboration of people from
different cultures, religions and belief systems, united in their
conviction that sustainable solutions must be grounded in human
of the world’s
rights and in their determination to defend the rights of all.
human rights
www.amnesty.org

4.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
REPORT 2007
THE STATE OF THE
WORLD’S HUMAN RIGHTS
This report covers the period January to December 2006.

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ABOUT THIS
REPORT
The Amnesty International Report 2007
documents human rights issues of concern to
Amnesty International (AI) during 2006.
AI’s approach to tackling human rights
abuses is informed by both the challenges and
opportunities for change in a given country or
region. The strategic goals that AI identifies in
a country or region determine AI’s work. As a
result, AI addresses particular issues in
specific countries. Its coverage of individual
issues, as reflected in the content of this
report, is focused rather than comprehensive.
If an issue is not covered in a country entry,
this should not be taken as a statement by AI
that abuses within this category did not occur.
Nor can the absence of an entry on a
particular country or territory be taken to
imply that no human rights abuses of concern
to AI took place there during 2006. In
particular, the length of individual entries
cannot be used as the basis for a comparison
of the extent and depth of AI’s concerns.
Regional maps have been included in this
report to indicate the location of countries
and territories, and each individual country
entry begins with some basic information
about the country. Neither the maps nor the
country information may be interpreted as
AI’s view on questions such as the status of
disputed territory.

6.
AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide
movement of people who campaign for
internationally recognized human rights to be
respected and protected.
AI’s vision is for every person to enjoy all of
the human rights enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and other
international human rights standards.
AI’s mission is to conduct research and take
action to prevent and end grave abuses of all
human rights – civil, political, social, cultural
and economic. From freedom of expression
and association to physical and mental
integrity, from protection from
discrimination to the right to shelter – these
rights are indivisible.
AI has 2.2 million members and supporters
in more than 150 countries and territories.
Funded largely by its membership and public
donations, AI is independent of any
government, political ideology, economic
interest or religion. No funds are sought or
accepted from governments for investigating
and campaigning against human rights abuses.
AI is a democratic movement. Major policy
decisions are taken by a two-yearly
International Council made up of
representatives from all national sections.
The Council elects an International Executive
Committee which carries out its decisions.
The Committee’s members elected for 2005-7
were Soledad García Muñoz (Argentina), Ian
Gibson (Australia), Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang
You (Netherlands, Chair from September
2006), Petri Merenlahti (Finland), Claire
Paponneau (France), Vanushi Rajanayagam
(New Zealand), Hanna Roberts (Sweden), and
David Weissbrodt (USA). AI’s Secretary
General is Irene Khan (Bangladesh).

8.
CONTENTS
Namibia/193 Switzerland/249
Nepal/194 Syria/250
Netherlands/196 Taiwan/252
New Zealand/197 Tajikistan/253
Nicaragua/198 Tanzania/254
Niger/198 Thailand/254
Nigeria/199 Timor-Leste/256
Oman/201 Togo/257
Pakistan/202 Trinidad and Tobago/258
Palestinian Authority/204 Tunisia/259
Papua New Guinea/206 Turkey/261
Paraguay/207 Turkmenistan/264
Peru/208 Uganda/266
Philippines/209 Ukraine/268
Poland/211 United Arab Emirates/269
Portugal/212 United Kingdom/270
Puerto Rico/213 United States of America/273
Qatar/213 Uruguay/277
Romania/214 Uzbekistan/278
Russian Federation/216 Venezuela/280
Rwanda/220 Viet Nam/282
Saudi Arabia/222 Yemen/283
Senegal/225 Zambia/285
Serbia/226 Zimbabwe/286
Sierra Leone/229
Singapore/230 PART 3
Slovakia/231 Selected international and regional
Slovenia/233 human rights treaties/293
Somalia/233 International human rights treaties/294
South Africa/236 Regional human rights treaties/306
Spain/238 A year of campaigning/313
Sri Lanka/240 Contact AI/324
Sudan/242 What you can do/330
Swaziland/246 Amnesty International publications/332
Sweden/248 Country index/335
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations are used in this report: Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of
I UN Children’s Convention refers to the Convention Their Families.
on the Rights of the Child. I UN Refugee Convention refers to the Convention
I UN Convention against Racism refers to the relating to the Status of Refugees.
International Convention on the Elimination of All I UN Women’s Convention refers to the Convention
Forms of Racial Discrimination. on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
I UN Convention against Torture refers to the against Women.
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman I European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. refers to the European Committee for the Prevention of
I UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, refers to the UN Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
High Commissioner for Refugees. Punishment.
I UNICEF refers to the UN Children’s Fund. I European Convention on Human Rights refers to the
I UN Migrant Workers Convention refers to the (European) Convention for the Protection of Human
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

12.
FOREWORD
IRENE KHAN
FREEDOM FROM FEAR
On 10 December 2006, while the world celebrated International Human
Rights Day, I was in Jayyus on the West Bank. The small village is now divided
by the Wall – or more accurately a high iron fence. Built in defiance of
international law, and ostensibly to make Israel more secure, the Wall’s main
effect has been to cut off the local Palestinian population from their citrus
groves and olive orchards. A once prosperous farming community is now
impoverished.
“Every day I have to suffer the humiliation of checkpoints, petty
obstructions and new restrictions that stop me from getting to my orchard on
the other side. If I cannot cultivate my olives, how will I survive?” cried one
angry Palestinian farmer.
As I listened to him, I could see in the distance the neat red roofs and
white walls of a large and prosperous Israeli settlement. I wondered if those
who lived there believed that a Wall threatening the future of their
neighbours could truly enhance their security.
Earlier that week, I had visited Sderot, a small town in the south of Israel,
which had been subjected to rocket attacks from Palestinian groups in Gaza.
“We are frightened,” one young woman resident told me. “But we know
that there are women like us on the other side who are also suffering, who
are also afraid, and who are in a worse situation than us. We feel empathy for
them, we want to live in peace with them, but instead our leaders promote
our differences and create more distrust. So we live in fear and insecurity.”
FEAR DESTROYS This brave Israeli woman understood what many world leaders fail to
OUR SHARED comprehend: that fear destroys our shared understanding and our shared
UNDERSTANDING humanity. When we see others as a threat, and are ready to negotiate their
AND OUR SHARED human rights for our security, we are playing a zero-sum game.
HUMANITY Her message is sobering at a time when our world is as polarized as it
was at the height of the Cold War, and in many ways far more dangerous.
Human rights – those global values, universal principles and common
standards that are meant to unite us – are being bartered away in the name
of security today as they were then. Like the Cold War times, the agenda is
being driven by fear – instigated, encouraged and sustained by
unprincipled leaders.
Fear can be a positive imperative for change, as in the case of the
environment, where alarm about global warming is forcing politicians
belatedly into action. But fear can also be dangerous and divisive when it
breeds intolerance, threatens diversity and justifies the erosion of
human rights.
In 1941, US President Franklin Roosevelt laid out his vision of a new world
order founded on “four freedoms”: freedom of speech and of religion;
freedom from fear and from want. He provided inspirational leadership that
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FOREWORD
overcame doubt and unified people. Today far too many leaders are
trampling freedom and trumpeting an ever-widening range of fears: fear of
being swamped by migrants; fear of “the other” and of losing one’s identity;
fear of being blown up by terrorists; fear of “rogue states” with weapons of
mass destruction.
Fear thrives on myopic and cowardly leadership. There are indeed
many real causes of fear but the approach being taken by many world
leaders is short-sighted, promulgating policies and strategies that erode
the rule of law and human rights, increase inequalities, feed racism and
xenophobia, divide and damage communities, and sow the seeds for
violence and more conflict.
The politics of fear has been made more complex by the emergence of
armed groups and big business that commit or condone human rights abuses.
Both – in different ways – challenge the power of governments in an
increasingly borderless world. Weak governments and ineffective
international institutions are unable to hold them accountable, leaving
people vulnerable and afraid.
History shows that it is not through fear but through hope and optimism
that progress is achieved. So, why do some leaders promote fear? Because it
allows them to consolidate their own power, create false certainties and
escape accountability.
The Howard government portrayed desperate asylum-seekers in leaky
boats as a threat to Australia’s national security and raised a false alarm of a
refugee invasion. This contributed to its election victory in 2001. After the
attacks of 11 September 2001, US President George W Bush invoked the fear of
terrorism to enhance his executive power, without Congressional oversight
or judicial scrutiny. President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan whipped up fear
among his supporters and in the Arab world that the deployment of UN FEAR THRIVES ON
peacekeepers in Darfur would be a pretext for an Iraq-style, US-led invasion. MYOPIC AND
Meanwhile, his armed forces and militia allies continued to kill, rape and COWARDLY
plunder with impunity. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe played on LEADERSHIP
racial fears to push his own political agenda of grabbing land for his
supporters.
Only a common commitment based on shared values can lead to a
sustainable solution. In an inter-dependent world, global challenges,
whether of poverty or security, of migration or marginalization, demand
responses based on global values of human rights that bring people
together and promote our collective well-being. Human rights provide the
basis for a sustainable future. But protecting the security of states rather
than the sustainability of people’s lives and livelihoods appears to be the
order of the day.
FEAR OF MIGRATION AND MARGINALIZATION
In developed countries, as well as emerging economies, the fear of being
invaded by hordes of the poor is being used to justify ever tougher measures
against migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, violating international
standards of human rights and humane treatment.
Driven by the political and security imperatives of border control, asylum
procedures have become a means for exclusion rather than protection.
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Across Europe, refugee recognition rates have fallen dramatically over the
years, although the reasons for seeking asylum – violence and persecution –
remain as high as ever.
The hypocrisy of the politics of fear is such that governments denounce
certain regimes but refuse to protect those escaping from them. The harsh
policies of the North Korean government have been condemned by western
governments but these same governments are far less vocal about the fate of
some 100,000 North Koreans reportedly hiding in China, hundreds of whom
are deported forcibly to North Korea every week by the Chinese authorities.
Migrant workers fuel the engine of the global economy – yet they are
turned away with brutal force, exploited, discriminated against, and left
unprotected by governments across the world, from the Gulf states and
South Korea to the Dominican Republic.
MILLIONS OF Six thousand Africans drowned or were missing at sea in 2006 in their
PEOPLE ARE BEING desperate bid to reach Europe. Another 31,000 – six times higher than the
FORCIBLY EVICTED number in 2005 – reached the Canary islands. Just as the Berlin Wall could
FROM THEIR HOMES not stop those who wanted to escape Communist oppression, tough
WITH NO DUE policing of the borders of Europe is failing to block those seeking to escape
PROCESS, abject poverty.
COMPENSATION OR In the long term, the answer lies not in building walls to keep people out
ALTERNATIVE but in promoting systems that protect the rights of the vulnerable while
SHELTER respecting the prerogative of states to control migration. International
instruments provide that balance. Attempts to weaken the UN Refugee
Convention or shun the UN Migrant Workers Convention – which no western
country has ratified – are counter-productive.
If unregulated migration is the fear of the rich, then unbridled
capitalism, driven by globalization, is the fear of the poor. Booming
markets are creating enormous opportunities for some, but also widening
the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. The rewards of
globalization are heavily skewed, both across the world and within
countries. Latin America is burdened with some of the highest levels of
inequality in the world. In India, there have been average growth rates of 8
per cent over the past three years, but more than a quarter of its
population still lives below the poverty line.
These statistics reveal the dark underbelly of globalization. The
marginalization of large swathes of humanity should not be treated as the
inevitable cost of global prosperity. There is nothing inevitable about policies
and decisions that deny individuals their economic and social rights.
Amnesty International’s growing programme of work on economic and
social rights is laying bare the reality of people’s fear: that in many parts of
the world people are being tipped into poverty and trapped there by corrupt
governments and greedy businesses.
As the demands for mining, urban development and tourism put pressure
on land, across Africa, Asia and Latin America, entire communities – millions
of people - are being forcibly evicted from their homes with no due process,
compensation or alternative shelter. Often, excessive force is used to uproot
them. Development-induced displacement is not a new problem, yet little
appears to have been learnt from past experience. In Africa alone more than
3 million people have been affected since 2000, making forced evictions one
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of the most widespread and unrecognized human rights violations on the
continent. Carried out in the name of economic progress, in reality they leave
the poorest of the poor homeless and often without access to clean water,
health, sanitation, jobs or education.
Africa has long been the victim of the greed of western governments and
companies. Now, it faces a new challenge from China. The Chinese
government and Chinese companies have shown little regard for their
“human rights footprint” on the continent. The deference to national
sovereignty, antipathy to human rights in foreign policy, and readiness to
engage with abusive regimes, are all endearing China to African
governments. But for those same reasons, African civil society has been less
welcoming. The health and safety standards and treatment of workers by
Chinese companies have fallen short of international standards. As the
biggest consumer of Sudan’s oil and a major supplier of its weapons, China
has shielded the Sudanese government against pressure from the
international community – although there are some signs that it may be
modifying its position.
Weak, deeply impoverished, and often profoundly corrupt states have
created a power vacuum into which corporations and other economic actors
are moving. In some of the most resource-rich countries with the poorest
populations, big business has used its unbridled power to gain concessions
from governments that deprive local people of the benefits of the resources,
destroy their livelihoods, displace them from their homes and expose them
to environmental degradation. Anger at the injustice and denial of human
rights has led to protests that are then brutally repressed. The oil-rich Niger
Delta in southern Nigeria, torn by violence for the past two decades, is a
case in point.
Corporations have long resisted binding international standards. The CORPORATIONS
United Nations must confront the challenge, and develop standards and HAVE LONG
promote mechanisms that hold big business accountable for its impact on RESISTED BINDING
human rights. The need for global standards and effective accountability INTERNATIONAL
becomes even more urgent as multinational corporations from diverse legal STANDARDS
and cultural systems emerge in a global market.
The push for land, timber and mineral resources by big conglomerates is
threatening the cultural identity and daily survival of many Indigenous
communities in Latin America. Subjected to racial discrimination and driven into
extreme poverty and ill-health, some of the groups are on the brink of collapse.
Against this background, the failure of the 2006 UN General Assembly
to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was yet
another unfortunate testimony to powerful interests trumping the very
survival of the vulnerable.
Although the rich are getting richer every day, they do not necessarily feel
any safer. Rising crime and gun violence are a source of constant fear, leading
many governments to adopt policies that are purportedly tough on crime but
in reality criminalize the poor, exposing them to the double jeopardy of gang
violence and brutal policing. Ever higher levels of criminal and police
violence in São Paulo and the presence of the army on the streets of Rio de
Janeiro in 2006 demonstrated the failure of Brazil’s public security policies.
Providing security to one group of people at the expense of the rights of
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another does not work. Experience shows that public security is best
strengthened through a comprehensive approach that combines better
policing alongside provision of basic services such as health, education and
shelter to the poor communities; so that they feel they too have a stake in a
secure and stable society.
At the end of the day, promoting economic and social rights for all is the
best approach to addressing the fears of the rich as well as the poor.
FEAR BREEDS DISCRIMINATION
Fear feeds discontent and leads to discrimination, racism, persecution of
ethnic and religious minorities and xenophobic attacks against foreigners
and foreign-born citizens.
When governments turn a blind eye to racist violence, it can become
endemic. In Russia hate crimes against foreigners and minorities are
common but until recently were rarely prosecuted because they fed into the
SPEECH SHOULD BE nationalist propaganda of the authorities.
CURTAILED ONLY As the European Union expands eastwards, the acid test of its
WHERE THERE IS commitment to equality and non-discrimination will be the treatment of its
CLEAR INTENT TO own Roma population.
INCITE RACIAL OR From Dublin to Bratislava, anti-Roma attitudes remain entrenched, with
RELIGIOUS HATRED segregation and discrimination in education, health and housing and
exclusion from public life persistent in some countries.
In many western countries, discrimination has been generated by fears of
uncontrolled migration and, post-9/11, aggravated by counter-terrorism
strategies targeting Arabs, Asians and Muslims. Fear and hostility on one side
have led to alienation and anger on the other.
Increasing polarization has strengthened the hands of extremists at both
ends of the spectrum, reducing the space for tolerance and dissent. Incidents
of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are increasingly evident. In many parts of
the world, anti-western and anti-American sentiments are at an all-time
high, as demonstrated by the ease with which some groups fomented
violence following the publication in Denmark of cartoons that many
Muslims found offensive.
The Danish government rightly upheld free speech but failed to affirm
strongly and immediately its commitment to protect Muslims living in
Denmark from discrimination and social exclusion. The Iranian President
called for a debate to promote the denial of the historical fact of the
Holocaust. The French parliament passed a bill making it a crime to deny that
the Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of the Ottomans.
Where should the line be drawn between protecting free speech and
stopping incitement of racial hatred?
The state has an obligation to promote non-discrimination and prevent
racial crimes but it can do that without limiting freedom of speech. Freedom
of expression should not be lightly restricted. Yes, it can be used to propagate
lies as well as truth, but without it there is no way to argue against lies, no
way to seek truth and justice. That is why speech should be curtailed only
where there is clear intent to incite racial or religious hatred, not where the
purpose is to express opinion, however distasteful.
In Albert-Engelman-Gesellschaft MBH v Austria (January 2006) the European
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Court of Human Rights described freedom of expression as “one of the essential
foundations of a democratic society and one of the basic conditions for its
progress and each individual’s self-fulfilment… freedom is applicable not only
to ‘information’ or ‘ideas’ [that are deemed acceptable] but also to those that
offend, shock or disturb; such are the demands of pluralism, tolerance and
broadmindedness without which there is no ‘democratic society’.”
FEAR OF DISSENT
Freedom of expression is fundamental to the right to dissent. Where there is
no dissent, the right to free speech is endangered. Where there is no dissent,
democracy is stifled. Where there is no dissent, tyranny raises its head.
Yet, freedom of expression and dissent continue to be suppressed in a
variety of ways, from the prosecution of writers, journalists and human rights
defenders in Turkey, to political killings of left-wing activists in the Philippines.
In the US prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, the only form of protest
arguably left to detainees is hunger strike. In 2006 some 200 detainees who
resorted to it were force fed by tubes inserted through the nose – a
particularly painful and humiliating method. When three men were reported
to have committed suicide, the US taskforce commander at Guantánamo
described it as “asymmetrical warfare”.
National security has often been used as an excuse by governments to
suppress dissent. In recent years heightened fears about terrorism and
insecurity have reinforced repression – or the risk of it – in a variety of ways.
“Old fashioned” abuses of freedom of expression, assembly and association
have gained a new lease of life in North Africa and the Middle East. In liberal
democracies the ever-widening net of counter-terrorism laws and policies HEIGHTENED FEARS
poses a potential threat to free speech. In 2006, for example, the UK adopted ABOUT TERRORISM
legislation to create a vaguely defined crime of “encouraging terrorism”, AND INSECURITY
incorporating the even more baffling notion of “glorifying terrorism”. HAVE REINFORCED
In the USA the authorities showed more interest in hunting down the REPRESSION
source of the leak behind the story in The Washington Post on CIA “black
sites”, than in investigating the policies that led to the establishment of these
secret prisons in the first place in contravention of international and US laws.
The authoritarian drift in Russia has been devastating for journalists and
human rights defenders. Having intimidated or taken over much of the
Russian press, President Vladimir Putin turned his attention to Russian and
foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 2006 with a controversial
law to regulate their funding and activities. In a public relations exercise just
prior to the meeting of the G8, he met with a group of international NGOs,
including Amnesty International. Informed of the damaging impact of his
NGO law on civil society in Russia and urged to suspend it pending further
consultations on amendments, he responded: “We did not pass this law to
have it repealed.” Three months later the Russian Chechen Friendship
Society, a human rights NGO working to expose violations in Chechnya, was
closed down under the new law.
Unfortunately, Russia is not the only country seeking to silence
independent voices on human rights. From Colombia to Cambodia, Cuba
to Uzbekistan, governments have introduced laws to restrict human rights
organizations and the work of activists, branding them disloyal or
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subversive, prosecuting those who dare to expose human rights
violations, and launching smear campaigns with the help of unscrupulous
media in an effort to instil fear and de-legitimize the work of activists.
In an age of technology, the Internet has become the new frontier in the
struggle for the right to dissent. With the help of some of the world’s biggest IT
companies, governments such as those in Belarus, China, Egypt, Iran, Saudi
Arabia and Tunisia are monitoring chat rooms, deleting blogs, restricting search
engines and blocking websites. People have been imprisoned in China, Egypt,
Syria, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam for posting and sharing information online.
IN AN AGE OF Everyone has the right to seek and receive information and to express
TECHNOLOGY, THE their peaceful beliefs without fear or interference. Amnesty International,
INTERNET HAS with the support of the UK newspaper The Observer (which published
BECOME THE NEW Amnesty International’s first appeal in 1961), launched a campaign in 2006 to
FRONTIER IN THE show that human rights activists will not be silenced, online or offline, by
STRUGGLE FOR THE governments or big business.
RIGHT TO DISSENT
FREEDOM FOR WOMEN
The pernicious relationship between discrimination and dissent is playing
out most vividly in the arena of gender. Women activists have been arrested
for demanding gender equality in Iran, murdered for promoting education of
girls in Afghanistan, and subjected to sexual violence and vilification around
the world. Women working on issues of sexual orientation and reproductive
rights have been especially targeted, marginalized and attacked.
Women human rights defenders are doubly endangered: as activists and
as women – for their work as well as for their identity. They are attacked by
both state and society, not only because they expose human rights abuses,
but also because they challenge patriarchal power structures and social and
cultural conventions that subjugate women, condone discrimination and
facilitate gender violence.
Women’s human rights have suffered in recent years from the twin trends
of backlash and backtrack. The backlash on human rights in the context of
counter-terrorism has affected women as well as men. And in an
environment of fear and religious fundamentalism, governments have
backtracked on their promise to promote gender equality.
Violence against women – in all societies around the world – remains one
of the gravest and most common human rights abuses today.
It thrives because of impunity, apathy and inequality. One of the most
blatant examples of impunity is the conflict in Darfur, where incidents of
rape rose in 2006 as armed conflict increased and spread to neighbouring
areas of Chad. One of the most insidious examples of apathy is Guatemala,
where more than 2,200 women and girls have been murdered since 2001, but
very few cases have been investigated and even fewer prosecuted. There are
many examples of the impact of inequality, but possibly one of the saddest is
the high levels of maternal and infant mortality – for example in Peru – due
to discrimination in health services.
Billions of dollars are being spent to fight the “war on terror” – but where
is the political will or the resources to fight sexual terror against women?
There was universal outrage against racial apartheid in South Africa – where
is the outrage against gender apartheid in some countries today?
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Whether the perpetrator is a soldier or a community leader, whether the
violence is officially sanctioned by the authorities or condoned by culture
and custom, the state cannot shirk its responsibility to protect women.
The state has the obligation to safeguard a woman’s freedom of choice,
not restrict it. To take an example, the veil and headscarf of Muslim women
have become a bone of contention between different cultures, the visible
symbol of oppression according to one side, and an essential attribute of
religious freedom according to the other. It is wrong for women in Saudi
Arabia or Iran to be compelled to put on the veil. It is equally wrong for
women or girls in Turkey or France to be forbidden by law to wear the
headscarf. And it is foolish of western leaders to claim that a piece of clothing
is a major barrier to social harmony.
In the exercise of her right to freedom of expression and religion, a
woman should be free to choose what she wants to wear. Governments and
religious leaders have a duty to create a safe environment in which every
woman can make that choice without the threat of violence or coercion.
The universality of human rights means that they apply equally to women
as well as to men. This universality of rights – universality both in
understanding and in application – is the most powerful tool against gender
violence, intolerance, racism, xenophobia and terrorism.
FEAR OF TERRORISM
It is in the sphere of terrorism and counter-terrorism that fear’s most harmful
manifestations flourish. Whether in Mumbai or Manhattan, people have the
right to be secure and governments have the duty to provide that security. IT IS IN THE SPHERE
However, ill-conceived counter-terrorism strategies have done little to OF TERRORISM AND
reduce the threat of violence or to ensure justice for victims of attacks, and COUNTER-TERRORISM
much to damage human rights and the rule of law. THAT FEAR’S MOST
Thwarted in 2004 by the courts from pursuing its policy of detaining HARMFUL
people indefinitely without charge or trial, the UK government has resorted MANIFESTATIONS
increasingly to deportation, or to “control orders” that allow the Home FLOURISH
Secretary effectively to place people under house arrest without criminal
prosecution. Suspects are thus condemned without ever being convicted.
The essence of the rule of law is subverted while its form is preserved.
Japan introduced a law in 2006 to fast-track deportation of anyone
deemed by the Minister of Justice to be a “possible terrorist”. People’s fate
will no longer be determined on the basis of what they have done but on the
omniscient ability of governments to predict what they might do!
Unfettered discretionary executive power is being pursued relentlessly by
the US administration, which treats the world as one big battlefield for its “war
on terror”: kidnapping, arresting, detaining or torturing suspects either directly
or with the help of countries as far apart as Pakistan and Gambia, Afghanistan
and Jordan. In September 2006, President Bush finally admitted what Amnesty
International has long known – that the CIA had been running secret detention
centres in circumstances that amount to international crimes.
Nothing so aptly portrays the globalization of human rights violations as
the US government’s programme of “extraordinary renditions”. Investigations
by the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and a Public Enquiry in
Canada, have provided compelling evidence confirming Amnesty
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International’s earlier findings of the complicity, collusion or acquiescence of
a number of European and other governments – whether democratic like
Canada or autocratic like Pakistan. Over the past few years, hundreds of
people have been unlawfully transferred by the USA and its allies to countries
such as Syria, Jordan and Egypt. In this shadowy system they risk enforced
disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment. Some have ended up in
Guantánamo, US-run prisons in Afghanistan or CIA “black sites”.
Lawyers cannot petition the authorities, seek judicial review or
demand fair trial for those held in secret detention for the simple reason
A CLEAR MOMENTUM that no one knows where and by whom they are being held. International
HAS BEEN CREATED IN monitoring is impossible for the same reasons.
FAVOUR OF The US administration’s double speak has been breathtakingly
TRANSPARENCY, shameless. It has condemned Syria as part of the “axis of evil”, yet it has
ACCOUNTABILITY AND transferred a Canadian national, Maher Arar, to the Syrian security forces
AN END TO IMPUNITY to be interrogated, knowing full well that he risked being tortured.
Pakistan is another country that the US administration has courted and
counted as an ally in its “war on terror” – notwithstanding concerns about
its human rights record.
Thankfully, there appears to be a growing realization in many countries
that security at all costs is a dangerous and damaging strategy. European
institutions are becoming more rigorous in their demand for
accountability and courts less willing to give in to governments’ claims.
The Public Enquiry in Canada called for an apology and compensation by
the US authorities for Maher Arar and for investigation into other similar
cases. Reports by the Council of Europe and the European Parliament are
leading to calls for greater scrutiny of security services. Arrest warrants
have been issued in Italy and Germany against CIA agents.
A clear momentum has been created in favour of transparency,
accountability and an end to impunity.
But the USA has yet to surrender. President Bush persuaded a Congress
in pre-election fever to adopt the Military Commissions Act, negating the
impact of the 2006 Supreme Court judgement in Hamdan v Rumsfeld, and
making lawful that which world opinion found immoral. The New York
Times described it as “a tyrannical law that will be ranked with the low
points in American democracy”.
The US administration remains deaf to the worldwide calls for closing
down Guantánamo. It is unrepentant about the global web of abuse it has
spun in the name of counter-terrorism. It is oblivious to the distress of
thousands of detainees and their families, the damage to the rule of
international law and human rights, and the destruction of its own moral
authority, which has plummeted to an all-time low around the world –
while the levels of insecurity remain as high as ever.
US Supreme Court Justice Brennan wrote in 1987: “After each
perceived security crisis ended, the United States has remorsefully
realized that the abrogation of civil liberties was unnecessary. But it has
proven unable to prevent itself from repeating the error when the next
crisis came along.”
A new US Congress raises hopes that things may yet take a different
turn, and that Democrats and Republicans will come to see a bipartisan
Amnesty International Report 2007 9

21.
FOREWORD
interest in restoring respect for human rights at home and abroad,
demanding accountability, setting up a commission of inquiry and either
repealing or changing the Military Commissions Act substantially in line
with international law.
FREEDOM FROM VIOLENCE
When global values of human rights are swept aside with impunity, parochial
interests raise their head, often driven by sectarian, ethnic and religious
groups, sometimes using violence. Although their practices are often
contrary to human rights, in a number of countries they are gaining support
with ordinary people because they are seen to be addressing the injustices
that governments and the international community are ignoring.
Meanwhile governments are failing to provide the leadership to bring
these groups to account for their abuses, and instead appear to be feeding
the very factors that foster them.
In Afghanistan, the government and the international community have
squandered the opportunity to build an effective, functioning state based on
human rights and the rule of law. Rampant insecurity, impunity and corrupt
and ineffective government institutions, combined with high unemployment
and poverty, have sapped public confidence, while thousands of civilian
deaths resulting from US-led military operations have fuelled resentment.
The Taleban has capitalized on the political, economic and security vacuum
to gain control over large parts of the south and east of the country.
A misguided military adventure in Iraq has taken a heavy toll on human
rights and humanitarian law, leaving the population embittered, armed
groups empowered and the world a much less secure place. The insurgency GOVERNMENTS ARE
has morphed into a brutal and bloody sectarian conflict. The government FAILING TO ... BRING
has shown little commitment to protect the human rights of all Iraqis. The THESE GROUPS TO
Iraqi police forces, heavily infiltrated by sectarian militia, are feeding ACCOUNT FOR THEIR
violations rather than restraining them. The Iraqi justice system is woefully ABUSES, AND INSTEAD
inadequate, as former President Saddam Hussain’s flawed trial and APPEAR TO BE FEEDING
grotesque execution confirmed. THE FACTORS THAT
If there is to be any hope of a shift in the apocalyptic prognosis for Iraq, FOSTER THEM
the Iraqi government and those who support it militarily must set some
clear human rights benchmarks – to disarm the militia, reform the police,
review the justice system, stop sectarian discrimination and ensure the
equal rights of women.
In the Palestinian Occupied Territories the cumulative impact of measures
by the Israeli authorities, including increasingly severe restrictions on
freedom of movement, expansion of settlements and the building of the Wall
inside the West Bank, has strangled the local economy. Ordinary Palestinians
are caught between interfactional fighting of Hamas and Fatah, and the
reckless shelling of the Israeli army. With no justice and no end to occupation
in sight, a predominantly young Palestinian population is being radicalized.
No truce will survive and no political process will succeed in the Middle East
if impunity is not addressed, and human rights and security of people are not
prioritized.
In Lebanon, sectarian divisions have further deepened in the aftermath of
the war between Israel and Hizbullah. The lack of accountability for current
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22.
FOREWORD
and past abuses – including during this recent war, and political
assassinations and enforced disappearances during the civil war (1975-1990)
– is a source of grievance that is being exploited by all sides. The government
is under pressure to concede more space to Hizbullah. There is a real risk that
the country could plunge into sectarian violence once again.
One commentator predicts a nightmare scenario of failing states from the
Hindu Kush to the Horn of Africa, with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia as
bookends, and Iraq, the Occupied Territories and Lebanon at the core of this
band of instability. Others speak of the revival of a Cold War mindset of “them
and us” in which powerful states seek to fight their enemies through proxy
wars in someone else’s backyard. The prognosis for human rights is dire.
SUSTAINABILITY
REQUIRES A FUTURE FREE OF FEAR
STRENGTHENING THE One can get sucked into the fear syndrome or one can take a radically
RULE OF LAW AND different approach: an approach based on sustainability rather than security.
HUMAN RIGHTS – The term sustainability may be more familiar to development economists
NATIONALLY AND and environmentalists, but it is crucial too for human rights activists. A
INTERNATIONALLY sustainable strategy promotes hope, human rights and democracy, while a
security strategy addresses fears and dangers. Just as energy security is best
provided through sustainable development, human security is best pursued
through institutions that promote respect for human rights.
Sustainability requires rejecting the Cold War tradition of each super
power sponsoring its own pool of dictatorships and abusive regimes. It
means promoting principled leadership and enlightened policies.
Sustainability requires strengthening the rule of law and human rights –
nationally and internationally. Elections have drawn a lot of international
attention, from Bolivia to Bangladesh, Chile to Liberia. But as the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and Iraq have shown, creating the conditions in which
people can cast their ballots is not enough. A bigger challenge is to promote
good governance, including an effective legal and judicial structure, the rule
of law based on human rights, a free press and a vibrant civil society.
A properly functioning system of rule of law at the national level is the
ultimate safeguard for human rights. But such a system of law, if it is to be
truly just, must embrace women and the poor. The majority of poor people
today live outside the protection of the law. Including them in a meaningful
way requires giving effect to economic and social rights in public policy and
programmes. In too many countries women continue to be denied equality
before the law. Equal access of women to all human rights is not only a
precondition for sustaining human rights, but also for economic prosperity
and social stability.
Sustainability requires revitalizing UN human rights reform. Humiliated
and sidelined by its most powerful members and ignored by governments
such as Sudan and Iran, the credibility of the UN Security Council has suffered
badly. Yet when the UN fails, the authority of its powerful member states is
also eroded. It is in the USA’s own interest to discard the “pick and choose”
approach to the UN and recognize the value of multilateralism as a crucial
means of promoting greater stability and security through human rights.
The UN Human Rights Council appears to be displaying some worrying
signs of factionalism reminiscent of its predecessor institution. But it is not
Amnesty International Report 2007 11

23.
FOREWORD
too late to change. Member countries can play a constructive role – and
some, including India and Mexico, are indeed doing so – to make the Council
more willing to tackle human rights crises and less open to political
selectivity and manipulation.
The new UN Secretary General too must assert himself to show leadership
as a champion of human rights. The UN’s responsibility for human rights is a
unique one that no other entity can usurp. All organs and officials of the UN
must live up to it.
Sustainability in human rights terms means nurturing hope. From the
many examples in 2006, we can draw lessons for the future.
The ending of the decade-long conflict in Nepal, with its attendant human
rights abuses, was a clear example of what can be achieved through
collective effort. The UN and interested governments, working with national
political leaders and human rights activists in the country and abroad,
responded to the powerful call from the people of Nepal.
International justice is critical for sustaining respect for human rights, and
in 2006 Nigeria finally handed over former Liberian President Charles Taylor
to the Special Court for Sierra Leone to be tried for war crimes and crimes
against humanity. The International Criminal Court (ICC) began its first
prosecution against a warlord from the Democratic Republic of the Congo for
recruiting child solders. The Lord’s Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel group,
is next on the ICC’s list, as are perpetrators of the atrocities in Darfur. In
pressing for accountability of armed groups as well as government actors, CIVIL SOCIETY
the ICC is setting an important precedent at a time when armed groups are WILL NOT ALLOW
flexing their muscles with brutal consequences for human rights. WORLD LEADERS TO
A massive campaign by civil society organizations moved the UN General FORGET DARFUR AS
Assembly in 2006 to adopt a resolution to start work on an Arms Trade LONG AS ITS PEOPLE
Treaty. Proliferation of arms is a major threat to human rights and the ARE UNSAFE
willingness of governments to bring it under control is an important step
towards achieving “freedom from fear”.
These positive developments – and many more – have happened
because of the courage and commitment of civil society. Indeed, the single
most significant sign of hope for transforming the human rights landscape
is the human rights movement itself – millions of defenders, activists and
ordinary people, including members of Amnesty International, who are
demanding change.
Marches, petitions, virals, blogs, t-shirts and armbands may not seem
much by themselves, but by bringing people together they unleash an energy
for change that should not be underestimated. Darfur has become a
household word for international solidarity thanks to the efforts of civil
society. The killings unfortunately have not stopped, but civil society will not
allow world leaders to forget Darfur as long as its people are unsafe. Gender
justice has a long journey still to make, but the campaign by Iranian human
rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi for equality of
women in Iran is lighting a flame that will not die down until the battle has
been won. The campaign for the abolition of the death penalty goes from
strength to strength thanks to civil society.
People power will change the face of human rights in the 21st century.
Hope is very much alive.
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26.
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REGIONAL
OVERVIEWS
Africa. Corruption and under-investment in
social services contributed to entrenched
poverty.
ARMED CONFLICTS
AFRICA
At least a dozen countries in Africa were
affected by armed conflict. Marginalization of
certain communities, small arms proliferation
The human rights situation in many parts of
and struggles for geo-political power and
Africa remained precarious in 2006. Armed
control of natural resources were some of the
conflict, under-development, extreme
underlying causes of the conflicts.
poverty, widespread corruption, inequitable
Although there were numerous peace and
distribution of resources, political repression,
international mediation processes, Burundi,
marginalization, ethnic and civil violence, and
Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Côte
the HIV/AIDS pandemic continued to
d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo
undermine the enjoyment of human rights
(DRC), Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo,
across the region.
Senegal, Sudan and Somalia were among the
Although armed conflicts generally
countries still engaged in or affected by
were on the decrease, they still affected
conflict. In all these countries, civilians
many countries. As a result, several
continued to suffer human rights abuses, and
million refugees and internally displaced
the most affected were women, children and
people, including children and the
the elderly. The conflicts in CAR, Chad, Sudan
elderly, remained without basic shelter,
and Somalia (with the involvement of
protection and care.
Ethiopia), represented an escalation of
Most states suppressed dissent and
conflict in central and east Africa.
the free expression of opinion. Some
Even in countries where peace processes
governments authorized or condoned
were under way, such as in Côte d’Ivoire, the
extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests,
DRC and Sudan, civilians continued to face
torture and other ill-treatment, or
attacks and were inadequately protected by
harassment of opposition political
their governments.
activists, human rights defenders and
Conflict continued in the Darfur region of
journalists. Across the region, suspects in
Sudan, despite the Darfur Peace Agreement.
criminal investigations continued to be
The Sudanese government failed to disarm the
at high risk of torture in part because
armed militia known as the Janjawid, which
of poor police training and supervision,
attacked civilians in Sudan and eastern Chad.
as well as public pressure on police to
Tens of thousands of Darfuris who escaped the
tackle high rates of crime.
killing, rape and pillage were living in refugee
The enjoyment of economic, social and
camps in CAR and Chad, unable to return to
cultural rights such as the rights to food,
their villages. At least 200,000 people had died
shelter, health and education remained a mere
and 2.5 million internally displaced by the end
illusion for the vast majority of people in
of 2006.
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27.
REGIONAL OVERVIEWS/AFRICA
Armed opposition groups in Chad, Côte Mogadishu in June, were defeated in
d’Ivoire and Sudan carried out human rights December by an Ethiopian force supporting
abuses, and in CAR, Chad and Sudan they the internationally recognized Transitional
continued to launch attacks against their Federal Government. Uncertainties remained
respective government forces using other about the deployment of an AU peace support
countries as bases. force to protect this government, as
Despite presidential and legislative authorized by the UN Security Council.
elections in the DRC in July and October, the The border dispute between Ethiopia and
peace process and future stability of the Eritrea continued to be a source of tension.
country remained under serious threat,
particularly because of the failure to reform ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND
the new national army into a professional and CULTURAL RIGHTS
apolitical force that respects human rights. The realization of economic, social and
The new army committed numerous serious cultural rights remained illusory in virtually all
human rights violations and the government countries in Africa. Struggling economies,
failed to exclude suspected perpetrators from under-development, under-investment in
its ranks. Congolese armed groups, as well as basic social services, corruption, and
foreign armed groups from Burundi, Rwanda marginalization of certain communities were
and Uganda present in the DRC, also some of the factors behind the failure to
threatened the peace and committed human realise these basic human rights. In countries
rights abuses. Lack of security limited such as Angola, Chad, the DRC, Equatorial
humanitarian access to many areas in the east. Guinea, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo and
Proliferation of small arms remained a Sudan, the presence of oil and other minerals
serious problem, particularly in Burundi, the continued to blight rather than enhance
DRC, Somalia and Sudan, contributing to a people's lives because of conflicts, corruption
vicious cycle of violence, instability, poor and power struggles.
human rights situations and humanitarian Hundreds of thousands of people in
crises. many African countries were deliberately
In Angola, the Memorandum of rendered homeless. By forcibly evicting
Understanding for Peace and Reconciliation in people without due process of law, adequate
Cabinda was signed by the government and the compensation or provision of alternative
Cabindan Forum for Dialogue, formally ending shelter, governments violated people’s
the armed conflict in Cabinda. However, internationally recognized human right to
sporadic attacks by both sides against civilians shelter and adequate housing.
persisted. Such evictions, which were often
Despite intense diplomatic efforts, notably accompanied by disproportionate use of force
by the UN and the African Union (AU), human and other abuses, were known to have taken
rights abuses continued to be reported in Côte place in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya,
d’Ivoire. Government security forces and the Nigeria and Sudan. In one incident in August,
Forces Nouvelles (New Forces), a coalition of bulldozers arrived unannounced in Dar al-
armed groups in control of the north since Salam, a settlement for displaced people 43
September 2002, were implicated. Both kilometres south of Khartoum, Sudan, and
protagonists repeatedly postponed began demolishing the homes of some 12,000
disarmament and demobilization, and the people, many of whom had fled drought,
reintegration programme remained famine, the north-south civil war and, most
deadlocked because of disagreement over recently, the conflict in Darfur. Some 50,000
the timetable. other people in Sudan continued to face
In Somalia, the militias of the Union of eviction as a result of the building of the Meroe
Islamic Courts, which had conquered dam; in 2006 a total of 2,723 households in the
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29.
REGIONAL OVERVIEWS/AFRICA
Amri area were given six days to evacuate their the region and around 900,000 people in
homes and reportedly given no shelter, food or Africa, most of them young children, died from
medicine. acute cases of malaria.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic continued to pose REPRESSION OF DISSENT
a threat to millions of Africans. According to Repression of dissent continued in many
UNAIDS (the Joint UN Programme on countries. The authorities in Eritrea,
HIV/AIDS), the virus caused 2.1 million deaths Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda and
in 2006 and 2.8 million people were newly Zimbabwe were among those that used a
infected, bringing to 24.7 million the total licensing/accreditation system to restrict
number of people living with HIV/AIDS on the the work of journalists and consequently
continent. impinged on the freedom of expression. The
Women and girls in Africa remained 40 per promulgation and use of anti-terror and public
cent more likely to be infected with the virus order laws to restrict dissent and the work of
than men, and often carried the main burden human rights defenders continued in some
as carers. Violence against women and girls in states, and human rights defenders were
some countries also increased their risk of HIV particularly vulnerable in Burundi, the DRC,
infection. Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and
National responses to HIV/AIDS continued Zimbabwe.
to be scaled up throughout the continent. The In Ethiopia, for example, opposition party
roll-out of anti-retroviral treatment leaders, journalists and human rights
continued, albeit unevenly. In June UNAIDS defenders who were prisoners of conscience
estimated that more than one million people were tried on capital charges such as treason,
on the continent were receiving life-saving attempted genocide and armed conspiracy. In
anti-retroviral therapy – 23 per cent of those Eritrea, members of minority evangelical
who required it. churches were imprisoned because of their
In South Africa, the country with the largest faith, and former government leaders,
number of people living with HIV/AIDS, the members of parliament and journalists
government showed signs of greater openness continued to be held without trial, many of
to the participation of civil society them feared dead.
organizations in achieving a more effective
response to the pandemic. DEATH PENALTY
At the AU Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, The death penalty continued to be widely
Tuberculosis and Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria, in applied and prisoners remained under
May, African governments committed sentence of death in several countries in the
themselves to “universal access to treatment, region, including around 600 people in
care and prevention services for all people by Rwanda. However, the Tanzanian authorities
2010.” This call was reiterated, albeit with few commuted all death sentences during 2006,
tangible commitments, at the UN General and the ruling party in Rwanda recommended
Assembly High Level Review Meeting on abolition of capital punishment.
HIV/AIDS (UNGASS Review) shortly In the DRC military tribunals continued to
afterwards. UN member states committed pass the death penalty after unfair trials,
themselves to working towards achieving although there were no reports of state
universal access to treatment, care and executions. In Equatorial Guinea, one person
prevention by 2010. Countries throughout the was publicly executed for murder.
region were developing national targets and
indicators for achieving this aim. IMPUNITY
Tuberculosis and malaria also posed a Police officers and other law enforcement
serious threat in many areas. In 2006 personnel in many parts of the region
tuberculosis killed over 500,000 people across continued to commit human rights violations,
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30.
REGIONAL OVERVIEWS/AFRICA
including unlawful killings, torture or other ill- In July 2006, the AU Assembly of Heads of
treatment, with impunity. However, there State and Government asked Senegal to try
were important developments in the efforts to Hissène Habré, Chad’s former President, for
end impunity for war crimes and other serious crimes against humanity he committed while
crimes under international law. in power (1982-1990). He had been living in
Following the referral of the situation in Senegal since he was ousted from office. In
Darfur by the UN Security Council in March 2005 a Belgian judge issued an international
2005, the Office of the Prosecutor of the arrest warrant for torture and other crimes
International Criminal Court (ICC) visited committed during his rule. In November 2006
Khartoum in 2006. Senegal’s Council of Ministers adopted a draft
Warrants of arrest issued in 2005 against law allowing Hissène Habré to be tried.
senior members of the Ugandan armed political Trials of prominent genocide suspects
group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – continued before the International Criminal
including Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which held 57
Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen – remained in detainees at the end of 2006. Ten trials were
force, but the accused were not apprehended. ongoing. The UN Security Council asked the
The LRA leaders argued that the warrants ICTR to complete all trials by the end of 2008.
should be withdrawn before they would However, the ICTR failed to indict or prosecute
commit to a peace agreement, but the warrants leaders of the former Rwandese Patriotic Front
remained in force at the end of the year. widely believed to have authorized, condoned
In the DRC, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, leader or carried out war crimes and crimes against
of an Ituri armed group, the Union of humanity in 1994.
Congolese Patriots, was arrested and charged In Rwanda, concerns remained about the
with war crimes – specifically, recruiting and impartiality and fairness of gacaca tribunals
using in hostilities children aged under 15. He (a community-based system of tribunals
was subsequently transferred to the ICC in The established in Rwanda in 2002 to try people
Hague, the Netherlands. suspected of crimes during the 1994 genocide).
In March, former Liberian President Charles
Taylor was handed over to Liberia by Nigeria, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
where he had been living. He was then AND GIRLS
transferred to the Special Court for Sierra Violence against women and girls remained
Leone to face trial on charges of war crimes pervasive and only a few countries were
and crimes against humanity committed considering laws to address the problem.
during the armed conflict in Sierra Leone. In Parliaments in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa
addition, three trials before the Special Court and Zimbabwe continued to discuss draft
continued of those bearing the greatest legislation on domestic violence and sexual
responsibility for crimes against humanity, offences.
war crimes and other serious violations of In South Africa and Swaziland in particular,
international law committed in the civil war in the pervasiveness of gender-based violence
Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996. continued to place women and girls at risk of
In Ethiopia, the 12-year trial of former HIV/AIDS directly or through obstructing their
President Mengistu Hailemariam ended in access to information, prevention and
December with his conviction for genocide, treatment. Gender-based violence, as well as
mass killings and other crimes. Along with 24 stigma and discrimination, also affected
other members of the Dergue military access to treatment for those already living
government (1974-1991), he was tried in his with HIV/AIDS.
absence while in exile in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe The practice of female genital mutilation
President Robert Mugabe had refused to remained widespread in some countries,
extradite him for trial. particularly Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan.
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31.
REGIONAL OVERVIEWS/AFRICA
In the DRC, women and girls were raped by Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African
government security forces and armed groups Court of Justice was being negotiated at the
and had little or no access to adequate medical end of the year.
treatment. In Darfur, rape of women by The African Peer Review Mechanism
Janjawid militias continued to be systematic. completed the review of Ghana, Rwanda and
The number of women attacked and raped South Africa but failed to make its findings
while searching for firewood around Kalma public. The African Commission on Human and
Camp near Nyala, South Darfur, increased Peoples’ Rights, which remained the only
from about three or four a month to some 200 functional regional human rights body,
a month between June and August. continued to be denied the much needed
In Nigeria there were frequent reports of human, material and financial resources to
sexual violence, including rape, by state fully respond to the many human rights
officials. Such abuses were committed with problems in the region.
impunity. In Côte d’Ivoire there were Overall, widespread and massive
continuing reports of sexual violence against corruption in Africa continued to contribute
women in the government-controlled areas to a vicious cycle of extreme poverty,
and the region held by the Forces Nouvelles. manifesting itself in violations of
internationally recognized human rights,
REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND especially economic and social rights, weak
HUMAN RIGHTS institutions and leadership, and
Although the Constitutive Act of the AU marginalization of the most vulnerable
underscores the centrality of the promotion sectors of the population, including women
and protection of human rights throughout the and children.
continent, the AU fell short of its commitment
to human rights generally. The AU continued
to demonstrate a deep reluctance to publicly
criticize African leaders who failed to protect
human rights, especially in Sudan and
Zimbabwe.
A combination of lack of political will and
capacity of the AU to halt continuing conflicts
in places such as Darfur, and the apathy of an
international community that had the capacity
but lacked the will to act, left millions of
civilians at the mercy of belligerent
governments and ruthless warlords.
Many of the institutions referred to under
the Constitutive Act of the AU became fully
operational in 2006 but they made little or no
impact on people’s lives. However, the
election of 11 judges to the newly established
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
enhanced the prospects of developing a
culture that would respect the rule of law and
human rights regionally. The Court held its first
meeting in July and the judges began drafting
the Court’s rules of procedure. A draft legal
instrument relating to the establishment of a
merged court comprising the African Court on
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32.
REGIONAL OVERVIEWS/AMERICAS
AMERICAS
Cuba, the only one-party state in the region,
also underwent a transfer of power as Fidel
Castro’s brother Raúl was temporarily
appointed President.
The Americas remained an extraordinarily The peaceful transfer of government power
diverse region, encompassing some of the in so many countries was a significant
world’s most economically advantaged achievement in a region that has been plagued
populations in North America as well as some by political instability and violent electoral
of the world’s poorest countries in the campaigns. Many of the new governments
Caribbean and Latin America. Common to the were elected on anti-poverty agendas
whole region, however, were a range of imposed by electorates increasingly frustrated
complex and pressing political, social and by the failure of prevailing economic policies
economic challenges that impinge on the to reduce poverty. The consolidation of
fulfilment of fundamental human rights. democratic processes provided an
The USA, unrivalled in military and unprecedented opportunity for the region’s
economic terms in the region and the world, governments to tackle persistent human rights
continued to maintain a dual discourse on violations and pervasive poverty.
human rights as it pursued its “war on terror”. Indeed, after decades of neglect of deep-
It claimed to be the leading force for the rooted social and economic problems, there
promotion of human rights and the rule of were encouraging signs that some
law, while simultaneously pursuing policies governments in Latin America in particular
and practices that flouted some of the most were moving beyond a rhetorical commitment
basic principles of international law. In so to human rights towards the adoption and
doing, it undermined not only long-term implementation of social and economic
security of which the rule of law is a central policies that could begin to address the
pillar, but also its own credibility on the region’s long-standing inequities.
international stage. Among the promises made by some new
Nowhere was the erosion of US governments were reforms to address structural
credibility and influence more marked flaws, such as inequitable land tenure,
than in Latin America. Growing numbers entrenched discrimination in the justice system
of South American countries in particular and lack of access to basic services, which
have sought to dissociate themselves from underpin violations of human rights.
political, economic and security policies However, progress was slow and Latin
promoted by the USA, and relations between America remained one of the most
the US and several Latin American economically inequitable parts of the world.
governments have become increasingly Poverty remained endemic and access to basic
fractious. Political tensions and mutual services such as health and education
criticisms were sharpest between the USA continued to be denied or limited for most
and Venezuela. people. The poor rural populations in
A key feature of 2006 was the continuing particular were denied access to justice and
strengthening of democratic processes and the basic services – vast rural areas were
consolidation of democratic institutions. neglected by the state leaving large numbers
Eleven countries held presidential elections, of people isolated and insecure.
some combined with legislative and state High expectations risk being dashed as
elections. The transition of power was democracy and good governance were
peaceful, despite legal challenges by some threatened by chronically weak institutions
losing candidates, such as in Mexico. In and undermined by lack of independence
general, the elections were judged by of the judiciary, impunity and endemic
observers to have been fair. corruption.
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REGIONAL OVERVIEWS/AMERICAS
Civil society in the Americas continued both the gangs that dominate the communities
to play an increasingly prominent role in and repressive state forces.
challenging governments’ lack of One of the more visible consequences of
accountability and the lack of access to public states’ repressive security measures was
services and to the justice system for the rampant violence in the region’s overcrowded
region’s poor. Human rights defenders were and out-of-control prisons. The phenomenon
key in the struggle for political, economic and of prisons as “no go” areas to the security
social rights. Their work contributed to forces spread in Central and South America. In
highlighting the social and economic Brazil, for example, a criminal gang in São
inequalities in the region and they played a Paulo’s prison system orchestrated
crucial role in legitimizing the struggle of the simultaneous riots in around 70 prisons in the
most vulnerable sectors of society, including state. At the same time, the gangs’ leaders
Indigenous peoples, women, and lesbian, gay, from within the detention system ordered
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. criminal attacks across the state, which
Public opposition to governments resulted in the killing of over 40 law
frequently led to massive and protracted enforcement officers and widespread damage.
social protests, which often met a repressive Police killed over 100 suspects during the
response from security forces. For example, confrontation, and many others died in
the political crisis in Oaxaca, Mexico, sparked suspected “death-squad”-style retaliations.
by a mass strike by teachers, resulted in huge In Colombia, which has endured one of
protests against the state governor over many the world’s most intractable conflicts, the
months. Despite the fact that only some humanitarian crisis continued. The security
protesters were violent, the state authorities forces, army-backed paramilitaries and
and their sympathizers reportedly responded guerrilla groups were responsible for many
by targeting all individuals and organizations human rights abuses, including war crimes and
perceived as sympathetic to the opposition crimes against humanity. Human rights
movement. defenders, trades unionists, and indigenous
and community leaders were particularly
INSECURITY AND CONFLICT vulnerable.
High levels of violent crime and lack of public In addition, the Colombia conflict
security continued to be major public continued to affect the rights of people living
concerns. Poverty, violence and the near the borders in neighbouring countries. In
proliferation of small arms – daily realities for Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela, rural
millions of people in the Americas – created populations were particularly exposed to
and sustained environments where human threats from armed forces, both state and non-
rights abuses flourished. state, and the risk of forced recruitment into
Governments have traditionally resorted to armed groups.
repressive law enforcement strategies to deal
with the consequences of state neglect, ‘WAR ON TERROR’
discrimination and social exclusion. Such Further evidence emerged of a systematic
policies have resulted in poor communities pattern of abuse by the USA and its allies in the
sinking deeper into violence and insecurity, context of the “war on terror”, including secret
particularly in urban centres. In cities in Brazil, detention, enforced disappearance, prolonged
El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and incommunicado and arbitrary detention, and
Jamaica, youth and armed criminal torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading
gangs posed a serious threat. Several states treatment. At the end of 2006, thousands of
increasingly resorted to military detainees continued to be held in US custody
“containment” of neighbourhoods, leaving without charge or trial in Iraq, Afghanistan and
many inhabitants exposed to the violence of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
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Despite several adverse judicial rulings, the Tribunal ruled that the “morning-after pill”
US administration persisted in pursuing should be available to every woman. In
policies and practices inconsistent with Colombia, abortion was decriminalized in
human rights standards. The US Congress, cases of rape in certain situations.
despite some positive initiatives, gave its In contrast, the Constitutional Court in
stamp of approval to human rights violations Ecuador ruled that emergency contraception
committed by the USA in the “war on terror” should not be available, and the authorities in
and turned bad executive policy into bad Nicaragua repealed the law that had allowed
domestic law. abortion in certain cases of rape.
In sharp contrast to positive developments Violations of the rights of Indigenous
in Latin America, there was a continued failure peoples, including violence against women
to hold senior US government officials and girls, were reported throughout the
accountable for torture and ill-treatment of region. Indigenous peoples continued to face
“war on terror” detainees, despite evidence entrenched racism and discriminatory
that abuses had been systematic. treatment. Denied adequate protection of
A shift in the balance of power in the US their right to live on and use the lands and
Congress as a result of the November mid-term territories vital to their cultural identity and
elections raised the possibility of greater their daily survival, Indigenous communities
congressional oversight and investigation of were often driven into extreme poverty and
executive actions, and of improved legislation. ill-health.
During 2006 the trend of reassertion of
DISCRIMINATION: Indigenous identity continued to grow. In the
STEPS FORWARD, STEPS BACK Andean countries in particular, this trend was
Violence against women continued to be reflected in the emergence of Indigenous
widespread throughout the Americas. peoples as a political force at the national
Governments failed to uphold laws that level, as in Bolivia, and at a local level. Parallel
criminalize violence against women in to this, growing ethnic divisions became
the home and the community, nor did apparent in Andean countries with the largest
they provide support and protection for proportion of Indigenous people. In Bolivia,
victims of violence. Lack of judges and ethnic divisions were aggravated by demands
prosecutors specialized in gender-based for greater regional autonomy by the mainly
violence as well as a lack of gender- non-Indigenous departments of Santa Cruz,
sensitive police units and adequate and Tarija, Beni and Pando.
sufficient shelters demonstrated a The LGBT community continued to suffer
fundamental lack of political will to end the stigma, discrimination and abuse in many
endemic violence against women. countries in the Americas, although they also
Despite national and international gained visibility and some acceptability,
indignation, the pattern of killings of women particularly in major cities.
continued in Colombia, El Salvador, In Nicaragua, lesbian and gay relationships
Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, among remained criminalized and in Caribbean
other countries. countries a number of “sodomy laws” were still
However, women’s rights, including in force. However, there were positive moves
their sexual and reproductive rights, were in some countries to ensure equality before
high on the agendas of political and civil the law. Mexico City passed a landmark ruling
society. In Chile, for example, the authorities recognizing same-sex unions. The Congress in
successfully petitioned in the courts to Colombia discussed a bill that if approved
allow the distribution without parental would give same-sex couples the same social
consent of the “morning-after pill” to girls security rights as those enjoyed by couples of
over the age of 14. In Peru, the Constitutional the opposite sex.
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IMPUNITY ROLLED BACK he had faced trial for atrocities during his 17-
Several countries in Latin America faced the year rule. Just weeks before his death he faced
painful legacy of past human rights violations. new charges in connection with 35 kidnappings,
The issues of truth, justice and reparation one homicide and 24 cases of torture. Former
were high on the agenda of civil society, the Paraguayan President Alfredo Stroessner died
judiciary and some governments, and action in exile in Brazil without ever having been
was taken against several former senior brought to trial for the widespread human
officials. rights violations committed during his rule
In Argentina, Miguel Etchecolatz, former between 1954 and 1989.
Director of Investigations of the Buenos Aires Universal jurisdiction continued to play a
Province Police, was convicted of murder, key role in tackling the legacy of past human
torture and kidnappings during the period of rights violations in Latin America. A judge in
the military government (1976-1983) and Spain issued arrest warrants for Guatemala’s
sentenced to life imprisonment in September. former President General Efraín Ríos Montt
The three judges in the case ruled that he was and several former senior army officials, who
responsible for crimes against humanity. faced charges of genocide, torture, terrorism
Former Peruvian President Alberto and illegal detention. However, former
Fujimori was granted bail in May in Chile General Efraín Ríos Montt remained free after
pending a decision by the Chilean Supreme the Guatemalan authorities considered only
Court of Justice on whether to extradite him to part of the case presented by the Spanish
Peru to face charges of corruption and human National Court. Two other former officials
rights violations. The Supreme Court were in custody and a third was a fugitive from
established that Alberto Fujimori was not justice.
allowed to leave the country until a decision
was reached. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
The prosecution in Mexico of former The Inter-American Commission on Human
senior officials accused of crimes against Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human
humanity committed in the 1960s, 1970s and Rights, the human rights mechanisms of the
1980s continued to collapse. However, in Organization of American States (OAS), issued
November a federal court ordered the a number of significant decisions. If
rearrest of former President Luis Echeverría implemented by states parties, these should
to stand trial on the charge of genocide in not only address particular cases of denials or
connection with the murder of students in violations of human rights of individuals but
Tlatelolco Square in 1968. also set important precedents for systematic
In November, a Uruguayan judge ordered change across the region.
the detention and trial of former President No progress was made on negotiations
Juan María Bordaberry (1971-1976) and former for a free trade agreement for the Americas;
Minister of Foreign Affairs Juan Carlos Blanco. such an agreement was viewed in many
They were charged in connection with the countries with scepticism or rejection.
killings of legislators Zelmar Michelini and However, progress was made on strengthening
Héctor Gutiérrez Ruiz, as well as Rosario trading partnerships within Latin America.
Barredo and William Whitelaw, members of
the Tupamaro guerrilla group Movement of
National Liberation, in Argentina in 1976. The
judicial decision was appealed.
The need for speedier justice was thrown
into stark relief by the death on 10 December of
former Chilean ruler Augusto Pinochet before
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ASIA-
approved by the WTO’s General Council in late
2006. A South Korean, Ban Ki-Moon, was
chosen to be the next UN Secretary-General.
PACIFIC In terms of human rights developments,
governments’ words and deeds were not
always well matched. Ten countries in the
2006 was a year of dramatic events and region joined the new UN Human Rights
much change in Asia and the Pacific. Council and made admirable statements on
Political upheavals provided the context for human rights. The Association of Southeast
accounts of fear, deprivation and Asian Nations (ASEAN) took steps towards a
discrimination. These included political greater role for human rights in its work.
unrest in Timor-Leste, Tonga and the However, Asia and the Pacific remained alone
Solomon Islands, and the declaration of in having no regional human rights
a state of emergency in the Philippines that mechanism, and on the ground improvements
sparked fears of increased political killings. in human rights protections were patchy.
In Bangladesh, politically motivated
violence marred the run-up to delayed GLOBALIZATION: PROSPERITY,
elections, and in Myanmar the authorities POVERTY AND MIGRATION
continued their policy of incarceration Globalization continued to have a profound
and repression of political opposition. Sri impact in the region. China and India in
Lankan peace talks collapsed and a particular notched up envied rates of
ceasefire barely held; thousands of killings economic growth while strengthening their
and mass displacement occurred through economic ties with each other. However, such
the year and in November the ceasefire developments did not bring benefits to
was declared “defunct” by the opposition everyone. Some industrialization and
armed group Liberation Tigers of Tamil development projects brought displacement
Eelam (LTTE). Coups took place in Thailand and human rights abuses, and millions of the
and Fiji. Alongside the anxiety, suffering most disadvantaged people remained in
and despair was hope and opportunity in poverty as the benefits of development were
Nepal where, after years of conflict and enjoyed disproportionately by those better
political stalemate, people came together to educated, housed and skilled. According to the
demand peace, human rights and democratic UN, more than 28 per cent of people in India
transition. Their voices were heard and remained below the national poverty line. The
the opportunity for peaceful transition figures were 50 per cent in Bangladesh, 40 per
appeared to have been seized when the cent in Mongolia and 33 per cent in Pakistan.
King and political parties agreed a way In particular, the rural-urban divide meant
forward that saw a comprehensive peace that economic development had yet to have a
agreement signed in November. positive effect on the lives of many rural
The Asia-Pacific region is home to six of the populations. In India, for example, overall
10 most populous states in the world, and unemployment increased, despite the
alone they account for half the world’s people. booming service sector, and desperation in
Several events in 2006 reflected the region’s rural areas was reflected in a disturbingly high
growing role on the world stage. China’s global number of suicides by farmers – the
commercial and political influence grew, and government reported that 16,000 took place
its preparations for the 2008 summer Olympic annually between 2003 and 2006, and 100,000
games generated a climate of pride and some in the preceding 10 years.
debate. Viet Nam was set to become the World China continued to witness vast numbers of
Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) 150th member in people moving out of poverty as well as
January 2007 after its membership was shocking disparity between living standards in
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rural and urban communities. Reports civilians. Serious breaches of international
published in 2006 estimated that earnings humanitarian law were committed by all
in towns were almost four times higher than in parties to the conflict, including international
rural areas. Life expectancy in urban China and Afghan security forces, and the Taleban.
was reportedly between 10 and 15 years longer The continuing inability of the international
than that for a farmer, despite appalling health community and the Afghan government to
and safety conditions for many industrial ensure good governance and the rule of law
workers in various sectors. added to the culture of impunity, further
Economic development held great promise fuelling local resentments. Government
but failed to improve the lives of the many who administrators, teachers and human rights
are marginal or suffer discrimination, such as defenders, many of them women, faced
women and ethnic minorities, as underlying threats and violent attacks, sometimes leading
structures of inequality remained deeply to death, by the Taleban and local power-
embedded. The processes of wealth creation holders. Pervasive poverty, food shortages
benefited limited numbers, as large swathes of and a lack of safe drinking water exacerbated
the region’s population remained in poverty by drought added to the suffering of people
with little or no access to adequate health and internal displacement.
care, education or housing. In Thailand, violence continued in the
Although globalization and the freer flow of mainly Muslim southern provinces. Armed
goods, services and finance across borders groups bombed, beheaded or shot Muslim
was largely welcomed in the region, migration and Buddhist civilians, including monks
was often the only way for people to benefit and teachers, and members of the security
from the new employment and earning forces. Those who tried to take action
opportunities but such movement remained on these and other abuses faced death
limited and dangerous. Migrants were treated threats and violent attacks, sometimes
badly in many Asian and Pacific states, with leading to death. Under the Emergency
governments failing to protect their rights. Decree, scores of people were detained
Other dynamics affecting the movement of arbitrarily without charge or trial,
people were conflicts and pervasive forms of denied access to lawyers, and some were
discrimination. In 2006, armed conflicts tortured or otherwise ill-treated during
displaced at least 213,000 people in Sri Lanka interrogation.
and 16,000 in Myanmar’s Karen state. Some In Australia anti-terror legislation raised
150,000 refugees remained on the many concerns about the protection of
Thai/Myanmar border; 100,000 North Koreans human rights, and in India the debate
were reportedly in China, having fled hunger; continued about the introduction of a “war
and around 7,000 Lao Hmong refugees on terror” law.
remained in a camp in Thailand. A nuclear test by North Korea in October
heightened tension in north-east Asia and
SECURITY CONCERNS beyond, prompting fears of an arms race
The “war on terror” continued to claim lives in the region, while hunger continued to
and to be associated with enforced blight the lives of untold numbers in the
disappearances, particularly in Afghanistan country. There were also calls for changes to
and Pakistan. Japan’s anti-war constitutional provisions,
In Afghanistan, the security situation in the while across Asia and beyond, the survivors
south and south-east deteriorated rapidly. The of Japan’s system of military sexual slavery –
spread of the insurgency in the country, before and during World War II – continued
coupled with lawlessness, led to increased their dignified call for justice, despite their
social unrest. The escalating conflict resulted dwindling numbers and lack of full
in the deaths and injuries of thousands of reparations.
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HUMAN RIGHTS: WORDS AND DEEDS penalty while maintaining an unofficial
Ten states from the Asia-Pacific region moratorium on its use.
became members of the new UN Human In various parts of the region the space for
Rights Council – Bangladesh, China, India, dissent was limited during 2006, and there was
Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the a continuing need to strengthen protections
Philippines, South Korea and Sri Lanka. for human rights activists. For example,
Each promised to respect human rights, co- political killings in the Philippines created
operate with UN human rights mechanisms widespread fear among political activists as
and special procedures, create or maintain well as human rights defenders wanting to
strong national human rights frameworks, speak out against unlawful killings and the lack
and ratify and uphold international human of investigations into them.
rights standards. However, many of these Entrenched traditional practices that
pledges had yet to bear fruit in practice by the curtail the rights of women and often result in
end of 2006. Relatively few states in the them suffering violence and even death
region, and only one of the new Human Rights remained widespread across the region but
Council members, had ratified the Rome were often marginalized in public debate and
Statute of the International Criminal Court. policy. Rape, forced marriage, “honour” crimes
Applications by UN Special Rapporteurs to and the abuse of women and girls in conflicts
visit several states in the region remained all continued. In Papua New Guinea, for
pending; in some cases requests had been example, sexual violence remained an
pending for over a decade, such as that everyday experience for many women, and
made in 1993 by the Special Rapporteur on accusations of sorcery resulted in the killing or
torture to visit India. abduction of women. Despite this, the
The dire human rights situation in Myanmar authorities did little to stop such crimes. In
was placed on the agenda for the first time by Afghanistan, early and forced marriage and
the UN Security Council in 2006, and the UN traditional practices such as exchange of girls
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, as a means of dispute settlement remained a
Ibrahim Gambari, visited the country in May. continuing threat to the well-being of girls
Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize winner and and women.
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remained However, the work of women activists in
under house arrest in Myanmar, and there was the region did bear some fruit. In Pakistan, the
continuing conflict, harassment of political crimes of rape and sexual violence were
activists, use of forced labour and defiance by amended to ensure that a complaint of rape
the authorities of international criticism, can no longer be converted into a charge of
including by ASEAN. adultery or fornication. In India, a law on
The Asia-Pacific region also lagged behind violence against women was finally
the steady global march towards abolition of introduced.
the death penalty and hosted shocking The human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual
numbers of executions, although some and transgender (LGBT) people continued to
progress was made. China, India, Japan, be regarded as a sensitive subject in many
Malaysia, North Korea, Pakistan, Singapore, parts of the region. However, LGBT rights
Thailand and Viet Nam featured among an activism increased in several countries,
alarmingly long list of countries in the region including China, India and the Philippines. In
that retained the death penalty despite India, a hundred public figures, including
continued campaigning for abolition from writers, academics and celebrities, signed an
within and beyond their borders. However, the open letter calling for the repeal of Article 377
Philippines abolished capital punishment in of the Penal Code which criminalizes
2006 and South Korea spent another year homosexuality; in Hong Kong, a young gay
considering legislation to abolish the death activist successfully challenged a law which
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provides for a higher age of consent for same-
sex couples than for heterosexual couples; and
in the Philippines, activists lobbied hard for
the adoption of a proposed Anti-
Discrimination Bill aimed at preventing
discrimination against LGBT people.
Leadership on human rights issues emerged
in different countries at different levels across
the region. At the state level, the Philippines
heeded calls to abolish the death penalty. At a
popular level, the people of Nepal provided an
inspiring demonstration of their strength in
moving towards peace and an end to the
abuses linked to conflict. Human rights
defenders, including women, environmental,
indigenous and many other activists,
continued to challenge powerful interests to
defend basic rights. Collectively, the forces for
human rights reform showed courage and
determination in confronting resistance to
progress from within their own societies as
well as multiple forms of state repression.
Ultimately, the Asia-Pacific region showed
strong demand and great potential for
progress across the full spectrum of human
rights, with the primary challenge one of
political will by governments. The dynamic
that made states declare their human rights
credentials when contending for membership
of the UN Human Rights Council in 2006 should
build the momentum towards delivering the
full range of economic, social and cultural as
well as civil and political rights.
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EUROPE -
returning people to countries despite the risk
that they faced serious human rights violations
including torture.
CENTRAL Two further countries – Bulgaria and
Romania – were set to join the European
ASIA Union (EU) at the beginning of 2007. While
enlargement continued to profile human
rights as a prime symbol of candidates’
Issues of statehood, security and migration readiness to join, the EU as a beacon “union of
continued to be major preoccupations across values” looked increasingly ambivalent.
the region. Further evidence emerged of the EU Council’s
Europe’s newest state, Montenegro, reluctance to confront the USA in its conduct
emerged in June from the continuing of the “war on terror” and its failure to
break-up of the former Yugoslavia, but a “practice what you preach” in relation to
decision on the final status of Kosovo, which migration. An institutional minimalist
formally remained part of Serbia, was approach to human rights within the EU’s
postponed until early 2007. No significant borders, which saw the establishment of a
progress was made in resolving the status of Fundamental Human Rights Agency largely
the region’s internationally unrecognized barred from addressing human rights abuses
entities, situated within the borders of by member states, added to the erosion of
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova, but credibility domestically and globally on human
remaining outside these states’ de facto rights issues.
control. Cyprus continued to be a divided Racism and discrimination continued
island. In Spain the armed Basque group across the region. There was a failure of
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) declared a leadership in many countries to convincingly
“permanent ceasefire” in March but challenge racist and xenophobic ideas and
dialogue with the government ended in ideologies, to implement comprehensive
December after an airport bomb killed two programmes to combat them, and to act with
people. In Turkey, there was an overall due diligence to prevent, investigate and
increase in 2006 in fighting between security prosecute racially motivated attacks. In some
forces and the armed Kurdistan Workers countries it was the authorities themselves
Party (PKK), and a rise in bomb attacks on that discriminated against minorities by failing
civilians by other armed groups. Impunity to uphold their rights. Discrimination was
as a result of conflicts across the region frequently on grounds of identity and legal
persisted. status – or lack of it – and led to barriers in
Many countries remained a magnet for access to a range of human rights, including
those attempting to escape poverty, violence economic, social and cultural rights.
or persecution. Changing migration patterns
from Africa saw over 30,000 people arrive on SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
the Canary Islands, with an unknown number Further evidence emerged of complicity by
of others feared lost on the journey in unsafe Europe’s governments in the US programme of
boats. However, European states continued to renditions – an unlawful practice in which
disregard the rights of refugees and migrants, numerous men have been illegally detained
adopting repressive approaches to irregular and secretly flown to countries where they
migration that included forcible detention have suffered additional crimes, including
and expulsion without access to fair and torture and enforced disappearance. It
individualized asylum procedures. In the became increasingly clear, including through
context of the “war on terror”, governments inquiries actively pursued by the Council of
also violated their international obligations by Europe and the European Parliament, that
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many European governments had adopted a However, there were other indications –
“see no evil, hear no evil” approach when it aside from the inquiries into renditions – of a
came to rendition flights using their territory. refusal to tolerate such abuses. In a landmark
Some were willing partners with the US case in Spain, the Supreme Court in July
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in facilitating quashed a six-year prison sentence and
abuses. Complicity by states such as Bosnia ordered the immediate release of a man
and Herzegovina, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, previously held in US detention at
Sweden and the UK ranged from acceptance Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on the grounds that
and concealment of renditions, secret evidence obtained while he was there was
detentions and torture or other ill-treatment inadmissible. The court ruled that
(and use of information gained from such Guantánamo Bay constituted a legal limbo
treatment) to direct involvement in without guarantees or control and therefore
abductions and illegal transfers. There was all evidence or procedures originating from it
evidence, furthermore, that security forces of should be declared null and void.
Germany, Turkey and the UK had taken In November, a UN human rights body
advantage of the situation by interrogating confirmed that the Swedish authorities had
individuals who had been subjected to been responsible for multiple human rights
rendition. violations in connection with a summary
In other areas too, security drove the expulsion to Egypt. The Swedish government
agenda over fundamental human rights – to reacted by reiterating that any such finding
the detriment of both. There were grave was not legally binding, and continued to
concerns that the governments of Kazakstan, refuse to provide reparation, including
Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine, in co- compensation, to the victims. In December,
operating with Uzbekistan in the name of Italian prosecutors asked a judge to indict 26
regional security and the “war on terror”, were CIA agents accused of kidnapping an Egyptian
violating their obligations under human rights cleric in the Italian city of Milan and
and refugee law by returning people to participating in his rendition to Egypt where
Uzbekistan despite the risk that they faced he was allegedly tortured.
serious violations including torture.
The UK government continued to REFUGEES, ASYLUM-SEEKERS
undermine the universal ban on torture by AND MIGRANTS
trying to deport people they deemed to be There remained a consistent pattern of
terror suspects to countries with a history of human rights violations linked to the
torture or other ill-treatment. The UK interception, detention and expulsion by
authorities sought to rely on inherently states of foreign nationals, including those
unreliable and ineffective “diplomatic seeking international protection. One
assurances” featured in memorandums of year on, there was still no outcome to
understanding agreed with states that had a investigations into the deaths in 2005 of 13
well-documented record of torture. migrants killed while trying to enter the
In Turkey, the new Law to Fight Terrorism Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla from
contained sweeping and draconian provisions Morocco. Three other people died in
that could in practice contravene similar incidents in July 2006.
international human rights law and facilitate Men, women and children continued
violations. People charged under existing to face obstacles in accessing asylum
anti-terrorism legislation in Turkey procedures. Some in Greece, Italy, Malta
continued to face unending trials, with and the UK were unlawfully detained and
some people still detained for more than others were denied necessary guidance
a decade pending a final verdict in and legal support. Many were unlawfully
their case. expelled before their claims could be
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properly heard, including from Greece, Italy, Roma and Serbs displaced from Kosovo
Malta and Spain. Some were sent to countries continued to be denied civil, political,
where they were at risk of human rights economic and social rights because they were
violations. refused civil registration. Similar problems
In response to shifting migration patterns, faced thousands of people in Slovenia – all
joint sea patrol missions by various EU from other former Yugoslav republics – who
countries and co-ordinated by the EU external had been unlawfully “erased” from the register
border control agency Frontex were set up, of permanent residents. In Estonia, members
intended to intercept migrants’ boats at sea of the Russian-speaking minority faced limited
and return the migrants to their country of access to the labour market owing to
origin. This raised serious concerns with restrictive linguistic and minority rights.
respect to fundamental rights, such as the right Authorities in Latvia, Poland and Russia
to seek and enjoy asylum, the right to leave continued to foster a climate of intolerance
one’s own country, and the principle of non- against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
refoulement. transgender (LGBT) communities, obstructing
New legislation in some countries further public events organized by LGBT groups amid
restricted the rights of asylum-seekers and openly homophobic language used by some
migrants. In Switzerland this included refusal highly placed politicians.
of access to the asylum procedure for people
without national identity documents. In IMPUNITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
France a new law tied residence permits for Although some progress was made in tackling
migrants to pre-existing work contracts, impunity for crimes committed on the territory
putting migrants at risk of exploitation in the of the former Yugoslavia during the wars of the
workplace. 1990s, a lack of full co-operation with the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former
RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION Yugoslavia together with insufficient efforts by
Across the region identity-based domestic courts meant that many perpetrators
discrimination was rife against Roma, who of war crimes and crimes against humanity
remained largely excluded from public life and continued to evade justice.
unable to enjoy full access to rights such as Torture and other ill-treatment, often race-
housing, employment and health services. In related and frequently used to extract
some countries the authorities failed to fully confessions, continued to be reported across
integrate Romani children into the education the region – routinely so in some countries.
system, tolerating or promoting the creation Victims described a catalogue of abuses,
of special classes or schools, including those including mock executions; beatings with fists,
where a reduced curriculum was taught. Roma plastic bottles full of water, books, truncheons
were also among those subjected to hate and poles; suffocation; deprivation of food,
crimes by individuals, as were Jews and water and sleep; threats of rape; and electro-
Muslims. In Russia, violent racism remained shocks to different parts of the body. Obstacles
widespread. to tackling impunity for such abuses included
Many people faced discrimination on police circumvention of safeguards, lack of
account of their legal status. In Azerbaijan prompt access to a lawyer, victims’ fear of
people internally displaced by the Nagorny reprisals, and lack of a properly resourced and
Karabakh conflict had restricted opportunities independent system for monitoring and
to exercise their economic and social rights, investigating complaints. In Russia, Turkey
including by a cumbersome internal and Uzbekistan in particular, failures to
registration process linking eligibility for conduct prompt, thorough and impartial
employment and social services to a fixed investigations perpetuated an entrenched
place of residence. In Montenegro over 16,000 culture of impunity. Such failures at domestic
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46.
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level in some countries meant that people reprisals from abusive partners; fear of
continued to seek redress at the European prosecution for other offences; self-blame;
Court of Human Rights, adding to its fear of bringing “shame” on their family;
overburdened case load. financial insecurity; lack of shelters or other
effective measures such as restraining orders
DEATH PENALTY to ensure protection for them and their
Significant progress continued to be made children; and the widespread impunity
towards abolition of the death penalty enjoyed by perpetrators. Women also
throughout the region. In June, Moldova frequently lacked confidence that the relevant
abolished the death penalty in law, and in authorities would regard the abuse as a crime,
November Kyrgyzstan adopted a new rather than a private matter, and deal with it
Constitution which removed previous effectively as such. Failure to bridge that
provisions on the use of the death penalty. confidence gap in reporting not only
When the Soviet Union collapsed, all 15 hampered justice in individual cases but also
newly independent states retained the death impeded efforts to tackle such abuses across
penalty. At the close of 2006, only two of them society by hiding the full extent and nature of
continued to apply the death penalty in law the problem.
and practice. These were Belarus and While there were some positive moves
Uzbekistan, both of which continued to cloak on legislative protection in this area, other
in secrecy the exact number of people crucial gaps remained. These included the
sentenced to death and executed annually. absence in some countries of laws specifically
Uzbekistan even insisted that no death criminalizing domestic violence and a
sentence had been passed for two years, even failure to collect comprehensive statistical
though credible non-governmental data. While the new domestic violence
organizations in the country reported that at law in Georgia was welcome, the failure
least eight such sentences had been handed to approve a national action plan on
down. domestic violence – as stipulated by the
While Europe in general followed the global law – raised doubts about the authorities’
trend towards abolition, the President of commitment to eradicate domestic
Poland sought to buck it by calling in July for violence. In Switzerland, a new law
the reintroduction of capital punishment in permitted expulsion of an aggressor
Poland and throughout Europe. Another less from the shared home if requested by the
positive note were conditions on death row in victim of domestic violence. However,
the region, with some prisoners believed to migrant women living in Switzerland for
have been kept in very harsh conditions for less than five years remained vulnerable
many years. In addition, death row inmates in to expulsion if they stopped cohabiting
countries (and unrecognized entities) with a with the partner named on their residence
moratorium on executions continued to suffer permit.
uncertainty about their ultimate fate. Trafficking of human beings, including of
women and girls for forced prostitution,
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN continued to thrive on poverty, corruption,
Violence in the home against women and girls lack of education and social breakdown.
remained pervasive across the region for all Trafficking of human beings in and to Europe
ages and social groups. It was manifested was widespread. Many states failed to ensure
through a range of verbal and psychological that the focus of policy and action in this area
abuse, physical and sexual violence, economic was on respect for and protection of the rights
control and killings. Commonly, only a small of trafficked persons. However, a positive
proportion of women reported this abuse, development towards that end included the
deterred among other things by fear of ratification in 2006 by three countries of the
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Council of Europe Convention on Action North Caucasus region of Russia, people
against Trafficking in Human Beings, which will seeking justice faced intimidation and death
enter into force when 10 countries become threats, with the murder of leading activist and
parties. human rights journalist Anna Politkovskaya in
October sending a chilling message about the
REPRESSION OF DISSENT dangers facing all those who dared to speak
In many areas across the region, there was out as she had done.
shrinking space for independent voices and In spite of threats, intimidation and
civil society as freedom of expression and detention, however, human rights defenders
association remained under attack. Turkey’s across the region remained resolute in
restrictive law on “denigrating Turkishness” continuing their work, inspiring others to join
muzzled peaceful dissenting opinion, with a them in aiming for lasting change and respect
steady flow of prosecutions against for the human rights of all.
individuals from across the political spectrum.
In Uzbekistan, in the wake of the 2005
Andizhan clashes in which hundreds of people
died, fewer and fewer independent or
dissenting voices were able to find an outlet to
express their opinion without fear of reprisal.
Reprisals came in the form of harassment,
intimidation and imprisonment. In Azerbaijan,
the authorities encouraged a climate of
impunity for physical attacks on independent
journalists, imprisoned others on
questionable charges, and harassed
independent media outlets through a range of
administrative measures. The clampdown on
civil society continued in Belarus, with an
increase in the number of activists convicted
as legal changes limiting freedom of
association came into effect. The outright
assault on any form of peaceful dissent
intensified in Turkmenistan, where people
were dismissed from their jobs and barred
from travelling abroad simply because they
were related to a dissident, and where the
authorities targeted human rights defenders,
portraying their activities as “treason” and
“espionage”.
Controversial new legislation in Russia
undermined rather than enabled civil society
by giving the authorities increased power of
scrutiny of funding and activities of Russian
and foreign non-governmental organizations.
The legislation introduced a regulatory
framework that could be arbitrarily applied,
had key provisions which lacked a precise legal
definition, and imposed sanctions that were
disproportionate. In Chechnya and the wider
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MIDDLE
restrictions on Palestinian movements, and
withheld customs duties due to the Palestinian
Authority.
EAST- The uneasy relationship between Israel and
Arab countries exploded into open conflict in
NORTH July, when an attack on Israeli soldiers by
members of the armed wing of Hizbullah
AFRICA sparked off a 34-day war involving Israel and
Lebanon. Around 1,300 people were killed
before an internationally negotiated ceasefire
took effect on 14 August. Civilians on both sides
Armed conflict and the legacy of former bore the brunt of the conflict, particularly in
conflicts overshadowed other developments Lebanon, where some 1,200 people, including
in the Middle East and North Africa region in more than 300 children, were killed in Israeli
2006. Throughout the year, against the air attacks and artillery bombardment. Much
backdrop of foreign military presence, Iraq of Lebanon’s infrastructure was destroyed or
continued its inexorable descent into civil war damaged. After the fighting ended, civilians in
as long-standing political, ethnic and religious south Lebanon continued to be killed and
fault lines were increasingly exposed amid maimed by cluster bomblets, some four million
unrelenting sectarian violence. By the end of of which were fired into the area by Israeli
the year, the country was enmeshed in killings forces in the last days of the war. Both Israeli
and other violence, primarily by Sunni and forces and Hizbullah combatants showed a
Shi'a groups, that threatened the stability of wanton disregard for civilians and committed
the whole region. gross violations of human rights and
The long struggle between Israelis and international humanitarian law, including war
Palestinians in the Occupied Territories crimes.
continued to take a heavy toll in civilian lives Tensions between Iran and the
despite wide international recognition that international community continued to grow
the conflict was a major cause of political over the Iranian government’s determination
instability in the region and beyond. The 40- to pursue its nuclear enrichment programme.
year unresolved struggle entered a new phase In December the UN Security Council agreed a
after Hamas won January’s Palestinian programme of sanctions against Iran.
elections, defeating the Fatah party led by
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. IMPUNITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Frequent Israeli air and artillery attacks The war between Hizbullah and Israel was a
resulted in the deaths of more than 650 war fought without accountability. When the
Palestinians, mostly in the Gaza Strip and peace came, neither side took any steps to
mostly in the second half of the year. Further hold to account those who had committed war
deaths of Palestinians, again mostly in the crimes and other grave abuses during the
Gaza Strip, resulted from internecine fighting conflict, and there was virtually no pressure
between members of armed groups linked to from the international community for them to
the rival Hamas and Fatah parties. Meanwhile, do so. But this was not surprising. Rather, it
social and economic conditions for reflected a wider pattern of impunity that
Palestinians living under Israeli occupation remained deeply entrenched throughout the
continued to go from bad to worse as Israel Middle East and North Africa region.
pushed forward its construction of In many countries, security forces were
settlements and the building of a 700- allowed virtual carte blanche to detain,
kilometre fence/wall in the West Bank, intimidate and torture political opponents and
increased or tightened the blockades and criminal suspects. By failing to hold them to
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account, the governments to whom these investigated enforced disappearances and
forces reported betrayed their own other grave human rights violations
willingness to condone or acquiesce in such committed between 1956 and 1999. The Board
abuses. In Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia and began to inform some families of the results of
Yemen, political and terrorism suspects were the investigation but progress was
tried before special and military courts. In disappointingly slow even though the process
many cases they were convicted on the basis aimed only to obtain and disseminate the
of contested confessions by judges who rarely truth, not to bring accountability and
showed any inclination to investigate justice.
allegations that defendants had been tortured In Iraq, former President Saddam Hussain
in pre-trial detention. Such courts were and seven others were tried for human rights
intended to provide a veneer of legitimacy, but violations in connection with the killings of 148
the abusive systems of which they formed a people from the town of al-Dujail following an
part – based on prolonged incommunicado assassination attempt on Saddam Hussain
detention, torture or other ill-treatment and in 1982. The trial was billed as an exercise in
the extraction of confessions – were accountability, and so it should have been. In
fundamentally rotten. They delivered practice, however, the trial was unfair and
convictions, long sentences and even, in some undermined by political interference. Its
cases, the death penalty, but they did not outcome was a foregone conclusion, with the
deliver justice. tribunal’s appeal chamber acting as little more
Impunity was also the watchword in than a rubber stamp body, and Saddam
Algeria, which through the 1990s experienced Hussain was sentenced to death and in
an internal conflict estimated to have claimed December executed. The trial had represented
as many as 200,000 lives. Many were killed by an opportunity to turn the page in Iraq and
armed groups or by government security establish accountability through justice and
forces, while thousands of others were without recourse to the death penalty. It was
tortured in custody or became victims of an opportunity missed.
enforced disappearances after arrest. In most
cases, the individual perpetrators remained TERROR AND TORTURE
unknown and in 2006 there was further Torture and other ill-treatment continued to
evidence that the Algerian authorities be widespread in several countries in the
intended to keep it that way. President region, including Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran and
Bouteflika’s government enacted amnesty Jordan. Such abuses were also reported in
measures to confer legal immunity on Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria,
members of armed groups and the security Tunisia and Yemen.
forces responsible for serious abuses, and on The USA and some of its European allies
their political masters. At the same time, remained keen to collaborate with the
it was made a crime to accuse the security Algerian authorities in the “war on terror”,
forces of violating human rights, raising the despite Algeria’s shameful amnesty measures
prospect that victims and survivors of such and human rights record. The UK government
violations could be imprisoned for demanding strove unsuccessfully to obtain a
justice. “memorandum of understanding” such as it
In neighbouring Morocco, the government had previously agreed with Lebanon, Libya and
continued to address directly some of the Jordan, whereby untried terrorism suspects
wrongs of the past. The Human Rights Advisory could be returned forcibly from the UK despite
Board was charged by King Mohamed VI with the risk that they would be tortured. Such
following up on the groundbreaking work agreements, based not on law but on mere
undertaken previously by the Equity and “diplomatic assurances” that a returnee
Reconciliation Commission, which had would not be tortured or executed, were
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symptomatic of the willingness of the USA and WOMEN’S RIGHTS
some European countries to engage actively in Women remained in a subordinate position –
eroding key human rights safeguards that they legally, politically and in practice – across the
had previously helped to develop and to which region as a deep-seated culture of gender
they had long proclaimed allegiance. discrimination continued to hold sway.
The main symbols of this corrosive pattern However, some advances were achieved that
were the US detention camp at Guantánamo offered encouragement to a growing women’s
Bay, Cuba, the majority of whose inmates rights movement.
came from countries in the Middle East and In Kuwait, women participated for
North Africa region, and the secret renditions the first time in national elections and in
of suspected terrorists by the US government, Bahrain 18 women candidates stood in
in which a range of Middle Eastern and North elections for the House of Representatives,
African governments were complicit. Little although only one was successful. The
by little, information continued to emerge Moroccan government announced that it
about this murky multilateral conspiracy of would withdraw its reservations to the UN
secret detention and interrogation of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
terrorist suspects and their unlawful transfer Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
from one country to another, pointing to the and took steps to strengthen legislation
close involvement of Egyptian, Jordanian on domestic violence, and Oman acceded
and Syrian security and intelligence agencies to CEDAW. In Saudi Arabia, there was
among others with the US Central Intelligence some movement towards establishing a
Agency (CIA). Three Yemeni nationals, who specialized court to deal with cases of
were released more than a year after they domestic violence, but women continued to
were returned to Yemen from US custody, face pervasive forms of discrimination,
reported that they had been held for long including severe restrictions on their freedom
periods at unknown locations as suspects of movement.
in the US “war on terror”. Other such These and other developments represented
suspects were repatriated to Kuwait, Libya, a step forward but only a small and halting
Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and other one, underlining just how much more needs to
states after years spent at Guantánamo Bay. be done to give real substance to the notion of
Some were subsequently released but women’s rights. “Honour killings” persisted in
others were charged with terrorism-related Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Iraq, Syria
offences in their home countries. and other states in which the perpetrators
In Iraq, the US-led Multinational Force benefited from laws that belittled their crimes.
continued to hold thousands of detainees Throughout the region women were
without charge or trial, although batches of inadequately protected against other violence
detainees were released periodically during within the family. There were also worrying
the year. After the scandal of torture and other reports of trafficking of women in Oman, Qatar
abuses at Abu Ghraib in 2004, greatest concern and other states.
focused on the plight of those detained by In Iran, the all-male Council of Guardians
Iraqi police and other security forces, some ruled ineligible at least 12 women who
units of which were largely drawn from wished to stand as candidates in elections
supporters of Shi'a armed groups. There were for the important Assembly of Experts.
continuing reports of torture and other ill- Demonstrators who called for an end to legal
treatment of detainees held by some of these discrimination against women were violently
forces, and the Iraqi authorities showed little dispersed by the security forces. Despite this,
appetite to investigate or take action against the country’s resilient women’s rights activists
those who abused prisoners. were anything but deterred; they launched a
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campaign to collect a million signatures unexploded cluster bomblets. Some 200,000
nationally in support of their demand for an other Lebanese people were still displaced at
end to legal discrimination. the end of the year. Syria, together with
Jordan, absorbed most of the refugees who
DISCRIMINATION fled the violence in Iraq; estimates suggested
Discrimination on the basis of religion, that more than half a million Iraqis had taken
ethnicity, sexual orientation and other grounds refuge in Syria by the end of 2006. In Lebanon,
was prevalent in a number of countries in the around 300,000 Palestinian refugees, in most
region, while the religious sectarianism of the cases refugees from events surrounding the
Iraq conflict raised tensions between Sunnis creation of the state of Israel and the Arab-
and Shi'as. In Iran, members of the Arab, Israeli war of 1948, maintained a precarious
Azerbaijani, Kurdish and Baluchi minorities existence, tolerated but far from fully
were increasingly restive in the face of accepted by Lebanese authorities who
continuing discrimination and repression, while continued to deny or limit their access to
members of religious minorities – Baha'is, certain basic rights.
Nematollahi Sufis and Christians – were In North Africa, refugees and migrants from
detained or harassed on account of their faith. countries to the south, many of them seeking
Baha'is were also subject to discrimination in entry to European Union states, were liable to
Egypt, where they were required to present detention and summary expulsion by security
themselves as members of other faiths in order forces in Morocco, Algeria and Libya. There
to obtain official documents such as identity were three further deaths of migrants at the
cards and birth certificates. In Syria, hands of security forces at the border fence
discrimination continued against the Kurdish between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of
minority, with thousands of Syrian Kurds Melilla. Even recognized refugees were swept
effectively made stateless and so denied equal up and expelled by police in Morocco and
access to basic social and economic rights, allegedly abused and robbed in the process. In
while in Qatar the cases of some 2,000 people Libya, the authorities announced that they had
deprived of their nationality in previous years increased expulsions of migrants tenfold
remained unresolved. compared to 2004.
The Israeli authorities imposed further In the Gulf and elsewhere, migrant workers
discriminatory measures against Palestinians had their rights abused amid a mix of
living under Israeli military occupation, inadequate legal protection, exploitative
including by reinforcing the system of employers and government complacency.
segregated roads and checkpoints established However, in Kuwait, where there were
on behalf of Israeli settlers residing in the complaints about the treatment of South Asian
Occupied Territories. and Filipino nationals, new legislation was
introduced to afford some protection to
REFUGEES, ASYLUM-SEEKERS migrant domestic workers, and in the UAE the
AND MIGRANTS government announced new measures to
Unsurprisingly, the conflict in Iraq and the war improve living and working conditions for
between Hizbullah and Israeli forces caused migrant workers. In Oman, the right of workers
widespread internal displacement and large to form trade unions was set out in law for the
outflows of refugees into neighbouring first time, although domestic workers were
countries. In both Israel and Lebanon, most of excluded.
those displaced returned to their villages and
neighbourhoods once the fighting stopped, DEATH PENALTY
although many Lebanese people did so only to This ultimate form of cruel, inhuman and
find that their homes had been destroyed and degrading punishment was used extensively
their fields and orchards contaminated by throughout much of the region, although
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REGIONAL OVERVIEWS/MIDDLE EAST-NORTH AFRICA
Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia continued to Human rights defenders continued to speak
refrain from carrying out executions. In Iran, up for tolerance in the face of intolerance, and
at least 177 people were executed, including for freedom of expression and the right to
one minor and three others whose crimes were dissent, despite harassment and intimidation,
committed when they were minors, and there the threat of arrest and prosecutions. They did
were at least 39 executions in Saudi Arabia, so at particular risk to themselves in Iran,
mostly of foreign nationals. Bahrain carried Syria, Tunisia and Western Sahara, but also
out three executions, the first since 1996. Here faced threats and intimidation in other
too, those executed were foreigners. The countries, including Algeria and Lebanon.
execution of Saddam Hussain at the very end
of the year was particularly significant and
controversial, due to its timing, its especially
grotesque and degrading manner, and the
widespread sense within the region and
beyond that it represented no more than
“victor’s justice” and an act of vengeance,
rather than true justice or accountability.
DISSENT
The limits of dissent remained tightly
drawn in most of the region by governments
intolerant of opposition and by other
forces anxious to control debate. In most
countries, the media operated within strict
constraints and under threat of criminal
prosecution should they cause insult or
offence to government leaders or officials.
Journalists were prosecuted under
defamation laws in Algeria, Egypt and
Morocco, while in Iran, newspapers
continued to be closed down and journalists
detained and abused. State controls also
extended to use of the Internet. In Bahrain, the
government banned several sites; the Syrian
authorities blocked access to sites providing
news and comment on Syria; and bloggers who
criticized the authorities were detained in
Egypt and Iran.
The publication in Denmark of cartoons
offensive to many Muslims sparked violent
reactions, and in Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen
editors and journalists were prosecuted for
republishing them. Subsequently, Iran’s
President caused similar offence by publicly
questioning the Holocaust. However, the
Iranian authorities promptly closed Iran
newspaper after it published a cartoon found
to be offensive to the country’s Azerbaijani
minority.
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57.
AFG
AFGHANISTAN of the country. Thousands of Afghans were forced to
flee their homes because of conflict and drought.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) widened its area of operation to the south
AFGHANISTAN of Afghanistan, focusing on stabilization and security.
Head of state and government: Hamid Karzai The US-led Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
Death penalty: retentionist continued to carry out operations purportedly to
International Criminal Court: ratified counter terrorism.
Human rights bodies and the UN expressed grave
concern at the conduct of Afghan and international
The government and its international partners were forces. The UN in Afghanistan routinely condemned the
unable to ensure security and a climate of political killing of civilians by the Taleban and repeatedly called
uncertainty grew in the course of the year. Armed on the Afghan and US authorities to ensure the safety of
conflict, marked by aerial bombardments and suicide civilians while battling the insurgents.
bombings, escalated in southern parts of the country. US forces continued to deny detainees at Bagram
At least 1,000 civilians were killed. Poor governance, some of their basic rights. Although there appeared to be
the power of regional commanders and the impact of fewer allegations of gross abuses, lack of information
narcotics undermined the rule of law and human about detainees and denial of access to families were
rights. Government security bodies committed human continuing concerns. ISAF handed detainees into the
rights violations with impunity. There was little reform custody of Afghan authorities; there was insufficient
of judicial, law enforcement and security agencies. monitoring of how these detainees were subsequently
Women continued to face violence. Human rights treated. Aerial bombardments during OEF and ISAF
defenders, including women, were targeted and killed. operations were, on occasion, disproportionate.
It became increasingly dangerous to speak out against In July the UN Secretary-General’s Special
human rights abuses and for justice. Representative to Afghanistan expressed concern
about the deteriorating security situation in the south
Background and called for more development work as well as
In February, the Afghanistan Compact was adopted further military and diplomatic intervention to curb the
outlining reforms and priorities for the next five years. growing violence.
Through the Compact, the Afghan government and its b During a joint military operation on 21 and 22 May
international partners agreed new financial and by the government and OEF forces in Panjwayi,
institutional support and oversight mechanisms. Key Kandahar, 16 civilians, including children and the
areas of the Afghanistan Compact are security, elderly, were reportedly killed in Azizi village.
governance, rule of law and human rights, as well as b Tensions over the presence of international troops
economic and social development. were shown by violent protests after a fatal traffic
Lack of good governance and the rule of law accident in Kabul involving a US military vehicle on
contributed to the climate of impunity. Government 29 May. In ensuing riots, at least eight people were
officials and local power-holders were not held killed and 100 injured. Shops were looted and police
accountable for their actions and there was little or no vehicles, government buildings in the city and offices
access to justice. belonging to international non-governmental
Escalating conflict caused widespread social unrest. organizations (NGOs) were damaged.
Violations of international humanitarian and human b In July, areas near to Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan, were
rights law were committed with impunity by all parties bombed by US-led coalition forces, reportedly resulting
to the conflict, including international and Afghan in the death of at least 60 civilians. According to the
security forces and the Taleban. Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission in
Human rights defenders, many of them women, Kandahar, at least 22 civilians were killed in two
faced harassment, intimidation and in at least one case separate houses in Ghachi Zari. President Karzai
murder, as they sought to protect human rights. It ordered an inquiry into the bombing in Uruzgan.
became more dangerous to speak out. Schools were b On 24 October, Zangawat village in the Panjwayi
burned down and teachers were attacked and killed by district was bombed in an ISAF operation in which at
those opposed to the government and the education of least 70 civilians were reportedly killed, including
girls. children.
Conflict, drought and floods in different parts of the b In late May, more than 3,000 villagers from
country caused forced displacement throughout the Panjwayi and 200 from Zhari Dasht, Kandahar, were
year, while neighbouring Iran and Pakistan sought to displaced following fighting between US and Afghan
reduce the number of Afghan asylum-seekers. The forces and the Taleban. They reportedly fled to
number of Afghans returning from these countries Kandahar.
decreased. b Between July and October, it was estimated that
approximately 15,000 people had been forcibly
Conflict displaced by conflict, including hundreds displaced by
The conflict in the south and east grew in intensity and aerial bombardments in Kandahar, Uruzgan and
had a detrimental effect on governance in other parts Helmand provinces.
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58.
AFG
Resurgence of the Taleban b In January, a military court in Bagram found a US
Benefiting from a climate of lawlessness, notably in military official guilty of mistreating detainees and
the south, the Taleban enjoyed a significant sentenced him to four months’ detention. He was
resurgence. Their forces were responsible for found to have punched detainees in the chest, arms
breaches of international humanitarian law by and shoulders at a base in Uruzgan province in July
undertaking indiscriminate and disproportionate 2005.
acts of violence; by killing those not involved in Around 35 Afghans were released from US custody
combat; and by ill-treating and torturing those over at Guantánamo Bay and returned to Afghanistan.
whom they had effective control. For example, in the Refurbishment of Pol-e Charkhi high security prison
context of quasi-judicial processes, at least 11 people continued in advance of the expected transfer in 2007
were killed. The true number may have been far of the remaining Afghan detainees at Guantánamo
higher. Bay.
b On 28 August, a suicide blast attributed to the
Taleban in a market in Lashkar Gah, Helmand, killed 17 Rights of women and human rights defenders
people, many of them civilians. The situation for human rights defenders deteriorated.
b At least 19 individuals, including 13 civilians, were Members of the Afghanistan Independent Human
killed and another 20 injured on 26 September when a Rights Commission and representatives of national
suicide bomber attacked a security post near a mosque human rights organizations faced threats.
in Lashkar Gah. Civilians had gathered outside the Legal reforms designed to protect women were not
mosque to sign up for the Haj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. implemented and women continued to be detained for
breaching social mores. There was a rise in cases of
Weak government “honour” killings of women and self-immolation by
The reach of the central government was restricted. women.
Parallel systems of governance and dispute resolution b On 25 September, Safiye Amajan, head of the
prevailed. Kandahar regional Department of Women’s Affairs
Insecurity undermined the rule of law and created a (DoWA) was shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle.
climate of impunity. Governors in some provinces Individuals associated with Hezb-e Eslami were
acted independently of central government and arrested in connection with her death. Other DoWA
violated human rights with impunity. Despite the heads in other provinces also faced threats and
appointment of Supreme Court judges and other high- intimidation.
ranking officials, reform and rebuilding of the judicial
sector remained sluggish. The Afghan security forces, Transitional justice
particularly the police and representatives of the The government took a few steps to support the
National Security Directorate (NSD), were accused of Transitional Justice Action Plan, adopted in late 2005.
illegal detentions and torture and other ill-treatment. A mechanism for vetting political appointments was
The legal status of international forces appeared to established, and in December the President officially
put them beyond the reach of Afghan law, and their launched the action plan. However, efforts failed to
failure to provide effective redress for violations bring to justice those accused of human rights
undermined the rule of law. violations.
Corruption and involvement in the drugs trade further b Asadullah Sarwari, a former government minister
undermined the delivery of justice by the government. and former head of the intelligence service, was
Private jails continued to be administered by regional sentenced to death on 23 February for war crimes
commanders. In November, the Attorney-General committed between 1978 and 1992, under communist
declared a “jihad” (holy war) against corruption. rule. His trial was grossly unfair. For most of his 13 years
In early March, government officials, backed by in custody Asadullah Sarwari did not have access to a
international forces, brought to a close a prison lawyer.
uprising in which at least five people died. Detainees
associated with the Taleban in Pol-e Charkhi prison had Freedom of expression
protested against a new uniform regime and had taken Freedom of expression was reasonably well respected,
control of part of the prison. although there were attempts to limit it.
b In July, the government reportedly announced The NSD sought to ban open discussion of the
plans to re-establish the Department for the Promotion security situation and the Speaker of Parliament
of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, a government body proposed limiting parliamentarians’ freedom to speak
that committed numerous human rights violations, to the press.
notably against women, during the rule of the Taleban. b Abdul Rahman was arrested in February and
Assurances were given that the department would not threatened with the death penalty for converting from
be given the same duties as before. Islam to Christianity more than 15 years previously,
while working in Peshawar, Pakistan. In March, under
Detention by international forces heavy pressure from foreign governments, the court
US forces continued to hold around 500 detainees in returned his case to prosecutors, citing “investigative
Bagram airbase who were accused of links with the gaps” and he was released from prison. He fled to Italy
Taleban and al-Qa’ida. and was granted asylum.
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59.
ALB
AI country reports/visits such violence, particularly against women and children,
Reports was widespread. In its report, issued in November, the
• Afghanistan: UN Security Council mission must Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
ensure international commitment to human rights is (OSCE) noted that “domestic violence is under-reported,
long term (AI Index: ASA 11/018/2006) under-investigated, under-prosecuted and under-
• Afghanistan: Open letter to His Excellency sentenced”, and that “the overwhelming majority of
Sibghatullah Mojaddedi on the occasion of the perpetrators are granted impunity”. There were signs,
15 November 2006 visit to the Meshrano Jirga by however, that official and general public awareness of
military and civil leaders of the International this issue had increased. In July the Director General of
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) (AI Index: ASA the State Police directed the police to implement
11/019/2006) recommendations made by AI in its report on domestic
• Afghanistan: NATO must ensure justice for victims of violence issued in March. He ordered police to respond
civilian deaths and torture (AI Index: ASA promptly to all reports of domestic violence, to
11/021/2006) document complaints made by victims and order their
examination by forensic doctors, and to liaise with local
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offering legal
assistance and shelter to victims of domestic violence.
In December parliament adopted a law “On measures
against violence in family relations” drafted by a group
of domestic NGOs. This law aimed both to prevent such
ALBANIA violence and to introduce procedures to give victims of
domestic violence effective protection. The law was not
due to come into force until mid-2007.
b Between mid-July and the beginning of August, the
REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA wife and daughter of NT reported him three times to
Head of state: Alfred Moisiu Berat police because of his alleged violence towards
Head of government: Sali Berisha them and to three younger children. However, apart
Death penalty: abolitionist from briefly detaining NT, the police apparently took no
International Criminal Court: ratified effective action. On 12 October, he was again detained
by police after his alleged further violence, but escaped
from the police station the same day.
Violence against women was common and few
perpetrators were brought to justice. Women and Trafficking
children were trafficked for forced prostitution and Despite increased, and to some extent successful,
other forms of exploitation. Detainees frequently measures to counter trafficking, Albania continued to
alleged ill-treatment by police officers during, or in be a source country for the trafficking of women, often
the hours following, arrest. Investigations and minors, for sexual exploitation. Children, many of them
prosecutions related to such allegations were rare, Roma, continued to be trafficked to be exploited as
although in some cases police officers were beggars, for cheap labour, crime or for adoption.
disciplined. Conditions of detention, especially pre- According to official statistics, in the first six months of
trial detention, were harsh. the year, 119 criminal proceedings were registered with
the Serious Crimes Prosecutor's Office relating to
Background charges of trafficking women for prostitution, and five
In September the European Parliament ratified a to charges of trafficking children.
Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the In February Albania and Greece signed an
European Union (EU) and Albania, a significant step in agreement, subsequently ratified by parliament,
the process of Albania’s accession to the EU. In dealing with the protection, repatriation and
November the Albanian parliament approved rehabilitation of trafficked children. In July regional
ratification of Protocol 13 to the European Convention anti-trafficking committees were established in Albania
on Human Rights, thereby abolishing the death penalty to identify and overcome problems in implementing
in all circumstances. Public debates about corruption the national anti-trafficking strategy.
and incompetence within the ranks of judges and b In January, a man was arrested in Saranda on a
prosecutors were frequent but highly politicized; public charge of trafficking two 12-year-old boys to Greece as
confidence in the judiciary remained low. Certain drug couriers. The children had reportedly been
legislative reforms were delayed because of political arrested by Greek police two months earlier while
disputes related to forthcoming local elections, which crossing the border with a bag of cannabis.
led to the boycott of some parliamentary sessions by b In April, three men were jointly convicted by the
opposition deputies. Serious Crimes Court of trafficking six babies to
Greece between 1997 and 2003. They received
Violence against women sentences of up to 21 years’ imprisonment.
Domestic violence was not specifically prohibited in the There were also reports of trials and convictions of
Criminal Code, although it was generally recognized that defendants on charges of having trafficked women
Amnesty International Report 2007 49

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abroad for sexual exploitation. Those convicted Conditions of detention
received sentences of up to 15 years’ imprisonment. Despite an EU-supported programme of prison reform
However, witness protection was weak and and some improvements to detention conditions, these
prosecutors complained that prosecutions often failed were still generally very poor and characterized by
because at trial the victims of trafficking tended to overcrowding, poor hygiene and sanitation, and
withdraw their testimony under pressure from inadequate diet and health care. Contrary to Albanian
traffickers or their own families. law and international standards, minors were still
sometimes held together with adult detainees, and
Police ill-treatment remand and convicted prisoners shared cells. Mentally
Detainees frequently alleged that they had been ill- ill prisoners were often held in prisons instead of being
treated by police during arrest or during questioning sent for medical treatment in specialized institutions in
following arrest. In some cases minors who had been accordance with court decisions.
questioned by police without a parent, lawyer or Detainees held in remand cells in police stations
psychologist present complained of physical and suffered particularly harsh conditions, and there were
psychological ill-treatment. At initial remand hearings frequent complaints. Conditions were particularly
prosecutors and judges rarely initiated investigations poor, largely due to overcrowding, in Durrës, Elbasan
when a defendant complained of ill-treatment or bore and Korça police stations.
clear marks of injury.
In July the European Committee for the Prevention of AI country reports/visits
Torture (CPT) published its reports on visits to Albania Report
in 2003 and 2005. The CPT reported that during both • Albania: Violence against women in the family – “It’s
visits most of the detainees interviewed alleged that not her shame” (AI Index: EUR 11/002/2006)
they had been beaten by police, often during Visit
questioning. In some cases the alleged beatings AI delegates visited Albania in March.
amounted to torture. In a number of cases a medical
examination of the complainant found injuries
consistent with these allegations. A report by the OSCE
published in November, Analysis of the Criminal Justice
System in Albania, reached similar conclusions.
b In March, Dorian Leci was allegedly hit on the head
with a pistol butt, kicked and beaten by police officers
during his arrest in Tirana. He filed a criminal complaint
against a police officer, alleging the use of force, abuse
of office and torture. The prosecutor decided not to
ALGERIA
open an investigation into this complaint and
reportedly did not inform Dorian Leci of this decision, PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA
as required by law. Head of state: Abdelaziz Bouteflika
b In June, Amarildo Përfundi, aged 17, committed Head of government: Abdelaziz Belkhadem (replaced
suicide at home a few days after Korça police officers Ahmed Ouyahia in May)
questioned him for six hours. The Ombudsperson later Death penalty: abolitionist in practice
concluded that police officers had psychologically and International Criminal Court: signed
physically ill-treated Amarildo Përfundi and had
questioned him without a parent, psychologist or a
lawyer being present – in violation of the law. Korça The government introduced new amnesty laws
police denied that police officers had ill-treated the entrenching impunity for gross human rights abuses
boy. A criminal investigation was started against a in a stated effort to bring closure to the internal
police officer but had not been completed by the end of conflict of the 1990s, and criminalizing criticism of
the year. past violations by government forces. It made no
The Ministry of the Interior was reported as stating progress in investigating cases of enforced
that during 2006 more than 40 police officers accused disappearance and other serious human rights
of ill-treating people, taking bribes or other misconduct abuses committed during the 1990s or in clarifying
in relation to the treatment of suspects at police the fate of the victims of enforced disappearance.
stations had been punished administratively and Some 2,200 people who had been imprisoned or
referred to prosecutors' offices for investigation. detained on terrorism-related charges were released
However, few were brought to trial, and it appeared under the amnesty laws and members of armed
that none had been prosecuted under Article 86 of the groups who surrendered were offered exemption
Criminal Code dealing with quot;torture and any other from prosecution. However, fighting between armed
degrading or inhuman treatmentquot;. Trial proceedings groups and security forces continued, claiming over
before Tirana District Court against two police officers 300 lives, including more than 70 civilians. There
on lesser charges of quot;arbitrary actsquot; – generally were persistent reports of torture and ill-treatment of
punished by non-custodial sentences – had not been suspects detained by the authorities and accused of
concluded by the end of 2006. terrorism-related activities and there were concerns
50 Amnesty International Report 2007

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over the fairness of trials in terrorism-related and for Peace and National Reconciliation, a framework
politically motivated cases. Journalists, trade document adopted by national referendum in 2005.
unionists and human rights defenders were subject Human rights groups and associations of victims staged
to harassment and prison sentences. public demonstrations to protest against the new
legislation, describing it as unconstitutional.
Background The amnesty laws declared that any complaint
Algeria continued to be affected by the legacy of the against the security forces and those who acted in
long and bloody internal conflict of the 1990s in which conjunction with them would be inadmissible,
as many as 200,000 people are believed to have been effectively granting them blanket immunity for human
killed as a result of attacks and abuses by both armed rights violations committed during the years of internal
groups and government security forces. The conflict. Moreover, the laws threatened with
government branded its policy of “national imprisonment those who speak out about abuses by the
reconciliation” as the definitive solution to security forces. During the 1990s, security forces and
overcoming this brutal legacy. It introduced blanket state-armed militias carried out widespread torture
amnesty measures and exemptions from prosecution and thousands of extrajudicial executions and
for those responsible for past abuses, compensation enforced disappearances, all crimes under
payments for some categories of victims, social international law. The amnesty laws contravene
benefits for former armed group members and their Algeria’s international obligation to investigate these
families, and measures aimed at reintegrating people crimes and hold the perpetrators to account, thereby
who had been ostracized due to their suspected denying victims and their families an effective remedy
support for the Islamic Salvation Front (Front for the wrongs to which they were subjected.
islamique du salut, FIS). The FIS, whose election The amnesty laws also enlarged the scope of earlier
success in 1992 had sparked the army’s intervention measures granting exemption from prosecution to
and the ensuing internal conflict, remained banned members of armed groups who surrendered to the
and excluded from the political process although some authorities within a six-month period, in a stated effort
of its former leaders actively supported the to end fighting by armed groups. The law provided
government’s “reconciliation” plan. insufficient safeguards to ensure that those who had
Algeria was an important ally in the US-led “war on committed serious crimes, for example killings of
terror”. Violence by residual armed groups persisted, civilians, would be prosecuted. According to official
often in connection with criminal activities such as statements, up to 300 armed group members surrendered
smuggling, protection rackets and money-laundering. before the deadline expired, but it was not known how
The government continued its armed campaign against many of them were exempted from prosecution and by
these groups, which it claimed were aligned with al- what process. The authorities announced that those
Qa’ida. Despite the persistent risk of torture in giving themselves up in future would benefit from similar
terrorism-related cases, Algerians were deported from measures beyond expiry of the deadline.
several countries where governments alleged they The laws also provided for the release under an
were a risk to national security. Some countries amnesty of those detained or imprisoned for alleged
apparently received assurances from the Algerian involvement in terrorist activities except for collective
authorities that returnees would not be tortured or ill- killings, rape and bomb attacks. According to official
treated, but Algeria refused independent monitoring statements, some 2,200 people who had been charged
of detainees who had been returned from other with or convicted of involvement in terrorist activities
countries. were freed from detention in March and in the
Raised oil and gas prices led to high revenues which following months, but the names of those released and
allowed the government to repay some two thirds of its the process for determining eligibility were not
foreign debt. International financial institutions published. Several people charged with involvement in
warned that urgent reforms were needed to diversify international terrorism were initially released,
growth and create employment. Violent protests over although they were not entitled under the terms of the
social and economic conditions remained rife amid law. Some of them were later rearrested and detained.
widespread allegations of corruption. Other detainees who would have been eligible for
release were still in detention at the end of the year.
Impunity b In August the UN Human Rights Committee ruled
There was no progress towards investigating the that Malik Medjnoun, who had been detained without
numerous gross abuses, including torture, killings, trial for nearly seven years, should be tried
abductions and enforced disappearances, committed immediately or released, and that human rights
by armed groups and state security forces during the violations he had allegedly suffered in detention should
conflict of the 1990s. The government continued to fail be investigated. However, the government was not
to co-operate effectively with relevant UN human known to have taken any action in response to this
rights bodies and mechanisms in addressing the human decision and Malik Medjnoun remained detained
rights legacy of the conflict. without trial at the end of the year. In 2000, he was
Impunity was entrenched further by amnesty laws charged with participation in the 1998 killing of Lounes
issued under presidential decrees in February, which Matoub, a prominent singer, a crime which has not yet
were said by the government to implement the Charter been fully, impartially and independently investigated.
Amnesty International Report 2007 51

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In 1999 and 2000 Malik Medjnoun was held in 2002. Dozens of court cases brought by their families
unacknowledged and secret detention for seven had not led to full judicial investigations or prosecution
months during which he was reportedly tortured. of the alleged perpetrators. The laws on “national
reconciliation” barred courts from investigating
Political killings complaints against those responsible.
More than 300 people were reported to have been b In March the UN Human Rights Committee issued
killed by either armed groups or government security its first rulings on cases of enforced disappearance in
forces during the year, including over 70 civilians. Algeria. The Committee found that the state had
Armed groups continued to carry out attacks on violated several provisions of the International
military and, to a lesser extent, civilian targets. Military Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in failing to
forces carried out search operations and attacks in protect the rights and life of Salah Saker and Riad
areas where armed group violence persisted, killing Boucherf who had disappeared in 1994 and 1995
alleged armed group members. There were concerns respectively. The Committee also recognized that the
that some of these killings might have been treatment by the authorities of their relatives, who
extrajudicial executions and that some of those killed remained without news of their fate or whereabouts,
were women and children related to armed group amounted to ill-treatment.
members, but details were difficult to obtain. The laws on “national reconciliation” included
provisions to compensate families of victims of
Violations in counter-terrorism enforced disappearance, but no payments had been
Torture continued to be used with impunity. There were made by the end of the year. In the absence of any
persistent reports of torture and other ill-treatment in investigations or judicial proceedings, many families
the custody of the Department for Information and rejected the compensation offer, fearing that the
Security (Département du renseignement et de la payments were intended to silence their calls for truth
sécurité, DRS), a military intelligence agency which and justice.
carries out terrorism-related arrests and investigations. Several dozen families of victims of enforced
Detainees held in DRS custody said they were beaten, disappearance who had appealed to the authorities for
tortured with electric shocks, suspended from the help in previous years were summoned by security
ceiling, and forced to swallow large amounts of dirty forces and given written notification of the death of
water, urine or chemicals. They were held by the DRS in their loved ones, a prerequisite for any compensation
secret locations for up to several months, during which claims. The documents, however, refuted the families’
they were denied contact with the outside world, in claims that their loved ones had been arrested by
violation of the law. Reports of torture and ill-treatment security forces, stating instead that they had been
were not known to have been investigated, despite new killed by unidentified men or while participating in an
provisions criminalizing torture introduced in 2004. At armed group.
least three people convicted of belonging to a terrorist Families of victims of enforced disappearance were
group were sentenced to death in their absence. intimidated and some were prosecuted in connection
b Hadj Djilali Bouazza, an Algerian national resident with documentation they had produced and their
in Belgium, was arrested in March, some 10 days after campaigning activities on behalf of victims of enforced
arriving on a visit to Algeria. He was detained in DRS disappearance in Algeria or because of their peaceful
custody for three months during which he was not protests against the government’s national
permitted contact with the outside world and reconciliation policies.
reportedly abused by being stamped on, blindfolded
and beaten on the side of his head, causing temporary Intimidation of human rights defenders
deafness in one ear. An independent medical and journalists
examination requested by his lawyer did not take There were continuing restrictions on freedom of
place. He remained in prison awaiting trial for alleged expression and assembly, and several independent
terrorist activities in Algeria and abroad. organizations, including organizations of families of
b Ahmed Chergui was arrested in Boumerdes victims of enforced disappearance, continued to be
province, east of Algiers, at the end of June. He was held denied legal status. Some of the restrictions were
by gendarmerie officers for three days, during which linked to the state of emergency, imposed in 1992,
time he was reportedly stripped and threatened with a which remained in force.
dog. He was then transferred to DRS custody and The amnesty laws introduced in February
allegedly subjected to further torture, including severe criminalized free speech about the conduct of the
beatings on his legs. Despite extensive bruising to his security forces. Under these new laws, anyone
thighs, a medical certificate reportedly stated that he exposing human rights violations or wishing to
had no traces of injuries. He was charged with generate debate about them could face prosecution
terrorism-related activities and remained in detention and up to five years’ imprisonment, or 10 years in the
awaiting trial. case of a second offence. By the end of the year, the
laws were not known to have been applied, but victims
Enforced disappearances of human rights abuses and their families, human rights
No steps were taken to clarify the fate of thousands of defenders, journalists and trade unionists faced a range
victims of enforced disappearance between 1993 and of other forms of harassment and intimidation,
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63.
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including the threat of court action for exercising rights
guaranteed under international law.
Algerian media reported that some 20 journalists
ANGOLA
were prosecuted for defamation after complaints by
public officials. Some 15 prison terms of up to one year REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
were imposed, but most journalists remained at liberty Head of state: José Eduardo dos Santos
pending appeals. Head of government: Fernando da Piedade Dias dos
In July, President Bouteflika decreed a pardon for all Santos
journalists convicted in connection with laws Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
restricting free speech. Dozens of journalists sentenced International Criminal Court: signed
to prison sentences and fines benefited from the
measure. This followed a similar announcement in May
which had, in practice, benefited very few of the 200 or Forced evictions continued and hundreds of families
so journalists it was officially aimed at. This was were left without shelter. There were reports of
because it covered only journalists whose sentences human rights violations by police, including unlawful
had been confirmed, and most of those prosecuted killings and torture. Little progress was made
were at liberty awaiting the outcome of appeals. towards eradicating impunity. One police officer was
b Trumped-up charges were brought against lawyers prosecuted and 10 others dismissed for various
Hassiba Boumerdesi and Amine Sidhoum in September offences. In Cabinda, human rights violations
in an apparent attempt to intimidate them and deter continued despite the signing of a peace agreement
them from carrying out human rights work. They with a separatist movement. Human rights
remained at liberty pending trial for violating laws defenders and political activists were harassed and
governing the organization and security of prisons. some were briefly detained, while a human rights
organization was banned.
Refugees and migrants
Irregular migrants were at risk of detention and Background
collective expulsion. There were also reports of ill- In February, a cholera epidemic broke out and spread to
treatment of irregular migrants by Algerian border all provinces. By the end of the year more than 2,000
police. Thousands of irregular migrants, including people had died from the disease.
possible asylum-seekers, were deported to countries in Elections planned for late 2006 were postponed to
sub-Saharan Africa without being able to make asylum late 2007. However, voters’ registration only started in
applications or to appeal against deportation orders. November and only in a few areas. Opposition leaders
and others expressed concern at the number of small
AI country reports/visits arms, including AK-47 rifles, held by civilians (estimated
Reports at between 1.5 and four million) and called for
• Algeria: Unrestrained powers – Torture by Algeria’s disarmament ahead of the election.
Military Security (AI Index: MDE 28/004/2006) In February the National Assembly approved a new
• Algeria: New amnesty law will ensure atrocities go Press Law, which prohibits media censorship and
unpunished (AI Index: MDE 28/005/2006) guarantees access to information. The new law
• Algeria: Torture in the “war on terror” – a abolished the article which prevented journalists from
memorandum to the Algerian President (AI Index: defending themselves in court in cases of defamation of
MDE 28/008/2006) the President of the Republic.
Visit In August Angola ratified the United Nations
AI informed the government in May that it wished to Convention against Corruption.
visit Algeria, but was denied access to the country.
Forced evictions
The Council of Ministers approved two of the four
regulations for the implementation of the land laws
approved in 2004.
Although on a smaller scale than the previous year,
forced evictions occurred in several neighbourhoods in
Luanda. Between January and June, there were several
forced evictions in Cidadania and Cambamba I and II
neighbourhoods. In some cases, the police, municipal
fiscal agents and private security personnel used
excessive force, including firing live ammunition,
against residents who resisted the evictions. There
were no investigations into the forced evictions or the
excessive use of force by police.
In March, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to
adequate housing expressed concern about the
persistent practice of forced evictions in Angola. He
Amnesty International Report 2007 53

64.
ANG
called on the government to comply with its human and that one youth fled when they tried to search his
rights obligations and to address promptly violations of bag. He was captured and was then deliberately shot
human rights. and killed by a police officer. The second youth was
In March at least 330 families from the shot when the police tried to disperse a group of people
neighbourhoods of Cambamba I, Cambamba II and who had gathered and were protesting against the
Banga Wé, were forcibly evicted by police and private shooting. The police officer responsible for the death
security guards who used excessive force. was reportedly dismissed from the police force in June.
b National police officers, private security guards However, he had not faced criminal charges by the end
and people in civilian clothes demolished 200 houses in of the year.
Cambamba II on 13 March. They were reinforced by b In May police officers were reported to have
about 100 heavily armed riot police officers who shot tortured four detainees for several days in the Sixth
into the air and on the ground. They also beat and Police Station in Luanda. The four were Mateus Inácio
kicked residents, mainly women, children and the Martins, Faustino Penhafu, Zeferino Muipile and Santos
elderly who stood in front of their houses and refused João Francisco. The officers were among a group of 10
to move. A pregnant woman was beaten and started to officers reportedly dismissed from the police force in
bleed. A boy of about four was hit by a bullet in the June for various offences, including bribery, torture
knee. Nine people, including a 14-year-old boy and four and unlawful killing.
women – Eunice Domingos, Amélia José Faustino, Aida b In August the Benguela Provincial Court in Lobito
Cardoso and Isabel Miguel Francisco – were arrested, city convicted a police officer of the murder of
apparently for resisting the evictions. They were all Antoninho Tchiswugo in January 2005, and sentenced
released without charge by the end of the following him to 17 years’ imprisonment.
day.
b Also on 13 March, police and private security guards Human rights defenders
used excessive force when forcibly evicting families in Human rights defenders remained at risk of
the Cambamba I neighbourhood, where they persecution. In September, members of the Provincial
demolished 130 houses. Police and security guards Criminal Investigative Police (DPIC) arbitrarily arrested
pushed to the ground and beat those who resisted the human rights defender Raul Danda at the airport in
evictions. A security guard reportedly shot around the Cabinda city. He was unlawfully detained at the DPIC
feet of a youth as he was fleeing. Then he and several headquarters for more than the 48 hours allowed by
police officers surrounded the youth, beat him with a law. He was charged with instigating, inciting and
hose and kicked him. Several people were arrested and condoning crimes against the security of the state, and
briefly detained, including two members of the non- transferred to the Cabinda Civil Prison. He was released
governmental organization (NGO) SOS-Habitat and four four weeks later pending trial, but his trial had not
women, one of whom was pregnant and three who had started by the end of the year. Raul Danda is a member
young children with them. Several days later the police of the human rights organization Mpalabanda –
returned to Cambamba I and demolished the shelters Cabinda Civic Association, which was banned by the
that families had rebuilt. Cabinda Provincial Court in July for alleged
There were several forced evictions in May in the involvement in political activities. An appeal against
Cidadania neighbourhood of Luanda. the ban had not been heard by the end of the year.
b On 5 May, police officers and municipal fiscal
agents demolished a number of houses in Cidadania. Cabinda
Two men, Rafael Morais, a member of SOS-Habitat, and In August the government and the Cabindan Forum for
João Manuel Gomes, a resident, were arrested. They Dialogue (Forum Cabindés para o Diálogo, FCD) signed
were handcuffed together and kept in the sun for over a peace agreement to end the armed conflict in the
four hours, before being released uncharged. A police province. The agreement provided for the
officer beat João Manuel Gomes with a hose and Rafael demilitarization of combatants of the armed Front for
Morais was kept without his shoes or shirt. the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave (Frente de
Libertação do Enclave de Cabinda, FLEC) and their
Policing and human rights integration in the Angolan Armed Forces (Forças
Human rights violations committed by police Armadas Angolanas, FAA) and government. It also
continued, including the unlawful killing, torture and provided for an amnesty for crimes against the security
ill-treatment of detainees. Disciplinary measures were of the state committed in the context of the armed
taken against some police officers accused of conflict, which was subsequently approved by the
committing human rights violations during the year. National Assembly. However, FLEC and other
The measures, which included dismissal from the police organizations rejected the agreement, saying that it had
force, were publicized. However, only one police been signed by a former President of the FCD who had
officer was prosecuted during 2006, despite a been expelled from the organization in April and that
statement by a police spokesperson that the dismissals he did not represent their views. Following the signing
would not preclude criminal or civil proceedings. of the peace agreement there were unconfirmed
b In May police shot two young street vendors in reports of fighting between FAA and FLEC combatants.
Luanda, killing one. The police alleged that they There were no known investigations into numerous
suspected the two of possessing stolen mobile phones, reports of human rights violations by the police and the
54 Amnesty International Report 2007

65.
ARG
FAA in Cabinda, including extrajudicial executions, The bill was approved by the Chamber of Deputies
torture, rape and arbitrary detentions. in December.
b In January Francisco Banheva was beaten by Miguel Etchecolatz, former Director of
soldiers who found him and his wife working their fields Investigations of the Buenos Aires Province Police,
in the Mbata-Missinga area of Ncutu commune, was convicted of murder, torture and kidnappings
disobeying a FAA order specifying the days that people during the military government and sentenced to life
in the area could tend their fields. He reportedly died as imprisonment in September. The three judges in the
a result of the beating the next day. case ruled that he was responsible for crimes against
In June, the new Catholic bishop, whose humanity committed within the framework of
appointment in February 2005 from outside the genocide. Jorge Julio López, a main witness and
province had provoked violent protests, took office. complainant in the trial, went missing in September.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, police reportedly There were fears that he may have been a victim of
arrested 28 members of Mpalabanda who were meeting enforced disappearance.
to discuss the establishment of good relations with the
new bishop. They were released without charge later Land issues and Indigenous people
that day. Indigenous communities in Chaco and Salta Provinces,
including the Toba, Wichi and Mocovi groups, staged
AI country reports/visits hunger strikes, established roadside camps and
Reports submitted petitions to the authorities. Their petitions
• Angola: Call on Government to end forced evictions included requests for a reasonable budget for the
and excessive use of force immediately (AI Index: Indigenous Institute of Chaco, provisions for housing
AFR 12/004/2006) and health and a halt to the irregular sale and
• Angola: Human rights organization banned (AI Index: distribution of state-owned land to lumber companies
AFR 12/006/2006) and soybean producers.
• Angola: A step towards ending police impunity (AI b In August members of the Wichi community in the
Index: AFR 12/007/2006) General Mosconi area, Salta Province, established a
roadside camp beside National highway No. 34 to call
for the return of communal land. The land had been
exploited by private companies and the local water
company had cut off the water supply to the
communities.
Prison conditions
ARGENTINA Conditions of detention continued to be harsh in most
prisons and detention centres and detainees were ill-
treated. Detainees were reportedly seriously injured in
fires in prisons and police stations, allegedly because of
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC lack of help.
Head of state and government: Néstor Kirchner b In March, Walter Daniel Lescano died as a result of
Death penalty: abolitionist for ordinary crimes burns acquired during a fire in the punishment cell
International Criminal Court: ratified where he was held in the men’s prison in Santiago del
Estero, Santiago del Estero Province. He had
complained of ill-treatment by prison guards. An
There were reports of attacks and threats to investigation was reportedly initiated into the
individuals involved in trials of former members of circumstances surrounding the fire.
the security forces. Some trials for human rights b In January, three detainees – Sergio Daniel
violations were concluded. Prison conditions did not Romero, 16-year-old Matías Martínez and 17-year-old
improve. Indigenous communities’ economic social Ricardo Edgar Pared – died and one, Hugo Ariel
and cultural rights continued to be violated. Escobar, suffered serious burns in a fire at the 7th
Police Station in Corrientes, Corrientes Province. The
Justice four detainees had been handcuffed to the cell bars
Several former members of the security forces accused after being beaten by members of the police. An
of committing human rights abuses during the military investigation was reportedly initiated.
governments (1976-83) went on trial. Judges,
prosecution witnesses, non-governmental AI country reports/visits
organizations and relatives of former victims involved Statements
in the trials were attacked and threatened in the last • Argentina: Possible “disappearance”/Fear for safety
four months of the year. The trials followed a ruling by – Jorge Julio López (AI Index: AMR 13/004/2006)
the Supreme Court in 2005 that the Laws of Final Stop • Argentina: Human rights cases endangered by new
and Due Obedience were unconstitutional. wave of threats (AI Index: AMR 13/005/2006)
In September the Senate passed a bill implementing
the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Amnesty International Report 2007 55

66.
ARM
ARMENIA harassment against independent journalists, including
two assaults, death threats and the stoning of personal
property.
b On 6 September, Hovannes Galajian of the Iravunk
REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA newspaper was beaten by two unidentified men
Head of state: Robert Kocharian outside his home. The attack followed the publication
Head of government: Andranik Markarian of a number of articles criticizing prominent officials.
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes b In July the network of independent journalists
International Criminal Court: signed Hetq Online received threats of reprisals, including
death threats, if its journalists continued to publish
articles concerning the illegal acquisition of land for
Conscientious objectors continued to be imprisoned. redevelopment.
There were reports of intimidation of independent
journalists. The Ombudsperson was removed from Ombudsperson removed from office
her post in January by a presidential decree that she Ombudsperson Larisa Alaverdian was removed from
alleged was unconstitutional. her post in January by presidential decree and her
duties entrusted to an interim three-member
Conscientious objectors commission. She alleged that her removal and
Armenia did not release conscientious objectors to replacement were unconstitutional because a
military service, in defiance of its obligations and presidential prerogative either to dismiss the
commitments undertaken when acceding to the Ombudsperson or to replace that post by another body
Council of Europe to respect the right to freedom of was not provided for in Armenian law. She and other
thought, conscience and religion, and despite the human rights activists alleged that her removal had
introduction of an alternative civilian service to been prompted by her criticism of government policies
military service in national legislation in July 2004. and practices. A new Ombudsperson was elected by the
Conscientious objectors continued to complain that in National Assembly in February.
both its legislative framework and implementation,
Armenia’s alternative service was under the Human rights lawyer released on bail
supervision and control of the military and so did not Lawyer Vahe Grigorian, known for his advocacy work
constitute a real civilian alternative to military service. for families resisting forced eviction for government-
As of November there were reportedly 48 Jehovah’s led redevelopment programmes in central Yerevan,
Witnesses and one Molokan (a member of a Russian was released on bail in February. He had been held
religious minority) in detention for draft evasion. since October 2005 on charges of fraud which he
Forty-four of the Jehovah’s Witnesses had been tried alleged were unfounded and politically motivated. The
and sentenced to terms ranging from 18 to 48 months’ charges against him were not dropped and the case was
imprisonment. The remaining four were charged and still pending at the end of the year.
awaiting trial.
In January an amendment to the criminal code was AI country reports/visits
adopted making conscripts who refuse to perform Reports
alternative service liable to imprisonment. In May, 19 • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
men, all Jehovah’s Witnesses, filed an appeal with the International’s concerns in the region, January-June
European Court of Human Rights to prevent 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
retrospective prosecution for their abandonment of • Commonwealth of Independent States: Positive
the alternative service in 2004. Fifteen of the 19 trend on the abolition of the death penalty but more
applicants had been arrested in August 2005 and needs to be done (AI Index: EUR 04/003/2006)
sentenced to between two and three and a half years’ Visit
imprisonment under existing articles of the criminal AI delegates visited Armenia in April.
code dealing with desertion from military service
rather than refusal to perform alternative service.
Although their convictions were later overturned and
all were subsequently released, the courts refused to
formally acquit the men. The case was dropped in
November when all 19 were acquitted and all charges
against them dropped.
b In October a decision of the Court of Appeal
granted a prosecutor’s request for a stricter sentence to
be handed down to Jehovah’s Witness Hayk Avetisian.
His sentence was increased from 24 to 30 months.
Freedom of expression
Human rights activists and the Ombudsperson’s Office
expressed concern over incidents of intimidation and
56 Amnesty International Report 2007

67.
AUS
AUSTRALIA government continued to support trial by the US
Military Commission, which fell below international
standards.
AUSTRALIA Refugees and asylum-seekers
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Forty-three asylum-seekers from the Indonesian
Michael Jeffery province of Papua were recognized as refugees after
Head of government: John Howard arriving in Australia by boat in January. Under new
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes legislation proposed by the government, all asylum-
International Criminal Court: ratified seekers without documentation arriving by sea would
be processed in other locations in the Pacific Ocean,
and those granted refugee status would be settled
Violence against women and low rates of outside Australia. The bill was withdrawn by the Prime
prosecution, and in remote communities a lack of Minister due to lack of support.
support services for Indigenous women were serious In October, an inquiry by the Human Rights and Equal
concerns. New counter-terrorism measures posed a Opportunity Commission found that the Department of
threat to human rights. Harsh new legislation Immigration had not provided adequate care to an Iraqi
against asylum-seekers was rejected. Hundreds of woman after she had been held in an all-male
refugees remained in limbo under the Temporary compound in an immigration detention centre.
Protection Visas system. Approximately 1,100 refugees remained on three-
year Temporary Protection Visas. In November the High
Indigenous people Court ruled that refugees granted these visas were not
In May, a report by the Crown Prosecutor for Central entitled to further protection if, after three years, they
Australia exposed numerous cases of sexual abuse and were unable to prove the continued need for
violence against women and children in remote protection and if the government considered their
Indigenous communities. The report revealed a lack of country of origin to be safe.
support services available for Indigenous women in
remote communities and a lack of appropriate action AI country reports/visits
by the authorities. Statements
During a visit to Australia in August, the UN Special • Australia: One step forward, two steps back —
Rapporteur on adequate housing expressed concern at Amnesty International calls for an immediate halt to
poor housing conditions in Indigenous communities. proposed legislation to punish asylum seekers
In September an inquest found that a police officer arriving by boat (AI Index: ASA 12/002/2006)
was responsible for the death in custody of Mulrunji • Australia: “First things first” — Amnesty International
Domadgee, an Indigenous man from Palm Island, Seeks Australia-Indonesia Declaration on Respect
in 2004. for Human Rights (AI Index: ASA 12/003/2006)
• Australia: Open letter to Prime Minister John Howard
Violence against women calling for David Hicks to be brought home (AI Index:
The UN Committee on the Elimination of ASA 12/006/2006)
Discrimination against Women expressed concern
about the high level of violence against women, and
the low rates of prosecution and convictions in sexual
assault cases. The Committee was also concerned
about the continued violence and discrimination
faced by women in Indigenous, refugee and migrant
communities. There were concerns about the lack of
appropriate action against the trafficking of women
into Australia.
Human rights and security
Joseph “Jack” Thomas, who was charged with a
terrorism-related offence, was subjected to the
country’s first Control Order, resulting in restrictions
on his movement and his freedom to associate and
communicate with others.
The Attorney General rejected recommendations by
the Security Legislation Review Committee, including
those to remove from the Attorney General the power
to proscribe organizations as “terrorist” and to make
this a judicial process.
Australian citizen David Hicks entered his fifth year
in detention at Guantánamo Bay. The Australian
Amnesty International Report 2007 57

68.
AUS
AUSTRIA recognition of medical ethics, doctors are not legally
obliged to force-feed the detainee. The result in
practice is that hunger strikers can be detained until
they die or, as in the case of Geoffrey A, after suffering
REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA serious damage to their health, they are released
Head of state: Heinz Fischer without effective medical supervision.
Head of government: Wolfgang Schüssel
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes.
International Criminal Court: ratified
Police officers were found guilty of crimes that
effectively amount to torture. Austria does not
specify the crime of torture. New legal provisions
allowing forced feeding of certain groups of people
came into force.
AZERBAIJAN
Torture and ill-treatment REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
b In August, four police officers were found guilty of Head of state: Ilham Aliyev
beating and threatening Bakary J, a Gambian national, Head of government: Artur Rasizade
with a mock execution. In April, police officers drove Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
Bakary J, whose deportation had been stopped, to an International Criminal Court: not ratified
empty warehouse in Vienna where he was handcuffed,
kicked, beaten and threatened with a mock execution.
The officers later took him to a hospital and told staff Rights to freedoms of expression and assembly were
that he had been injured while attempting to escape, restricted. Police routinely used force to disperse
and he was eventually returned to a detention centre. demonstrations. Opposition journalists were
Neither the police officers nor medical staff at the attacked, imprisoned or fined on criminal
hospital reported the events, and criminal defamation or dubious drugs-related charges.
investigations were not initiated until Bakary J’s wife Opposition politicians were denied rights to due
made a complaint. According to medical process and reportedly in some cases medical care
documentation, Bakary J’s skull was fractured in and access to legal counsel of their own choosing. A
several places and he had several bruises. journalist was extradited to Turkey despite being at
At the end of August the Higher Criminal Court in risk of torture or other ill-treatment. People internally
Vienna ruled that the police officers had inflicted or displaced by the conflict in Nagorny Karabakh in
abetted Bakary J’s injuries. They were given suspended 1991-94 had restricted opportunities to exercise their
sentences of eight and six months’ imprisonment for economic and social rights.
tormenting Bakary J and for neglect, respectively. The
judge defined the incident as a “lapse”, and as a Freedom of expression under attack
mitigating factor referred to the stressful conditions Rights to freedoms of expression and assembly were
under which deportation occurs. In December the routinely restricted. Police dispersed authorized and
disciplinary commission of the Vienna Police sentenced unauthorized meetings, reportedly with excessive force
the officers to fines of between one and five months’ on occasion.
salary. b Two serious assaults on opposition journalists
Fikret Hüseynli and Baxaddin Xaziyev, attacked in
Aliens Police Act March and May respectively by unidentified assailants,
b At the end of August, Geoffrey A, a Nigerian were unsolved at the end of 2006.
national, went on hunger strike while in detention b Two further assaults by unidentified men took
awaiting deportation. Under provisions in the Aliens place in late December. Ali Orucov, press secretary of
Police Act, which came into force in January, he was the opposition Azerbaijan National Independence
transferred to prison, where he was not given any Party, suffered bruising and a fractured finger. Nicat
medical attention. He was released after 41 days on Hüseynov, a journalist with the Azadl¹q newspaper, was
hunger strike in a very weakened state. No one was hospitalized with head and internal injuries and a stab
notified of his release, and on his way home he wound after being attacked in the street in broad
collapsed and was taken to an intensive care unit of a daylight.
Vienna hospital. b No progress was made in investigating the murder
Geoffrey A was detained under provisions of the in 2005 of newspaper editor Elmar Hüseynov, widely
Aliens Police Act. Inherent inconsistencies in the law believed to have been killed because of his criticism of
mean that, rather then being released on grounds of ill- political corruption.
health – as was formerly the practice – people awaiting b Criminal defamation proceedings were brought
deportation who are on hunger strike can continue to against several individuals and newspapers. They
be kept in detention in order to be force-fed, while, in resulted in the imprisonment of two journalists, who
58 Amnesty International Report 2007

69.
AZE
were pardoned and released in October, and a number allowed access to appropriate medical care. No
of suspended sentences and heavy fines, in one case hearings have been heard in the brothers’ case, and no
leading to the closure of independent newspaper trial date set. Their property has been expropriated and
Realny Azerbaydzhan. family members allegedly intimidated.
b Well-known satirist and government critic Sakit
Zahidov of the Azadl¹q newspaper was arrested on Risk of torture
charges of drug-dealing in June. He claimed drugs had On 13 October, Kurdish journalist Elif Pelit was
been forcibly planted on him after he was abducted and extradited to Turkey, where she was detained on
then arrested by plain clothes policemen. After no charges of membership of the Kurdish Workers’ Party
evidence of drug-dealing was presented at his trial, the (PKK). In 1999 she had been granted asylum, and
charge was reduced to use of illegal drugs. However, a subsequently citizenship, in Germany. She was first
urine test at the time of arrest reportedly showed no arrested in Azerbaijan on 4 November 2004, for
evidence of drug usage, and doctors called as witnesses crossing the border illegally from Iraq while on
admitted that their diagnosis of Sakit Zahidov as a drug assignment for Mesopotamia, a Kurdish news agency
addict was based on 30 minutes’ visual observation linked to the PKK. Fined and released in March 2005,
only. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. she was immediately rearrested under Turkey’s
His appeal was rejected in December; reportedly no extradition order, and her extradition was confirmed
new evidence or witnesses were presented at the by the Supreme Court in October 2005.
hearing.
b On 24 November the Azadl¹q and Bizim Yol Restricted rights for the displaced
newspapers, the Institute for Reporter Freedom and People internally displaced by the conflict in Nagorny
Safety (a media freedom non-governmental Karabakh continued to have their freedom of
organization with close links to Azadl¹q), the movement restricted by a cumbersome internal
independent journalists’ association Yeni Nesil and the registration process linking eligibility for employment
Turan news agency were forcibly removed by police and social services to a fixed place of residence.
from their premises in Baku following a legal ruling they Although there was progress in moving the displaced
claimed was unfounded and politically motivated. Also out of temporary shelters and providing housing, many
on 24 November the National Radio and Television new purpose-built settlements were located in remote
Council decided not to extend the broadcasting licence and economically depressed areas. People re-housed
of the ANS television company, widely regarded as the in these settlements faced a lack of jobs and access to
most independent in the country. The cessation of ANS basic services such as education and health care.
broadcasting further ended the retransmissions on ANS
frequencies of international radio stations such as the AI country reports/visits
BBC, Radio Liberty and the Voice of America. Following Reports
international and national appeals, on 12 December • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
ANS was reinstated temporarily pending completion of International’s concerns in the region, January-June
a tender for its frequencies scheduled for January 2007. 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
• Commonwealth of Independent States: Positive
Unfair trial concerns trend on the abolition of the death penalty but more
b Three leaders of the Yeni Fikir youth movement needs to be done (AI Index: EUR 04/003/2006)
arrested in 2005 on charges of plotting a coup d’état Visits
were imprisoned in July after an unfair trial. At the trial, AI delegates visited Azerbaijan in April and July.
only witnesses for the prosecution gave evidence and
no jury was appointed, in contravention of Azerbaijani
law. Allegations of torture in the case of one of the
accused, Ruslan Baôirli, were not investigated, and
medical care was reportedly denied to another, Said
Nuri.
b Opposition party activist Qadir Müsayev was
imprisoned in May for seven years following conviction
on charges of drug dealing. Reports suggested the
charges were fabricated because of his refusal to sign
fraudulent election result protocols when serving as a
polling station official.
b Former Minister for Economic Development
Farhad Aliyev and his brother Rafiq (no relation to
President Aliyev), arrested in October 2005 on charges
of plotting to violently overthrow the government,
were allegedly denied due process in pre-trial
detention. According to reports, their right to legal
counsel of their choosing was consistently denied from
the time of their arrest, and Farhad Aliyev was not
Amnesty International Report 2007 59

70.
BAH
BAHAMAS AI country reports/visits
Reports
• Bahamas: Privy Council abolishes mandatory death
sentence (AI Index: AMR 14/001/2006)
COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS • Bahamas: Flogging — Alutus Newbold (AI Index: AMR
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Arthur 14/005/2006)
Hanna (replaced Paul Adderley in February)
Head of government: Perry Gladstone Christie
Death penalty: retentionist
International Criminal Court: signed
Death sentences continued to be handed down by
the courts. Asylum-seekers and migrants, the
majority of whom were black Haitians, were
deported. Some were reportedly ill-treated. Reports
of abuses by members of the security forces,
including excessive use of force, continued.
BAHRAIN
Death penalty KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
In March, the UK-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Head of state: King Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Council, the highest court of appeal for the Bahamas, Head of government: Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al
abolished the mandatory death sentence for murder. Khalifa
Following this ruling, the Attorney General announced Death penalty: retentionist
that re-sentencing hearings would be held for all International Criminal Court: signed
inmates currently on death row.
Several new death sentences were issued after the
decision. At least two people were sentenced to death The authorities imposed restrictions on freedom of
in 2006 and 26 remained on death row. No executions expression. A group of detainees complained of
took place. physical abuse during their detention. The King
ratified a law imposing the death penalty. Three
Abuses by the security forces people were executed for murder.
There were reports of abuses, including excessive use
of force, by members of the security forces. Background
b Neil Brown was reportedly shot dead while In September Bahrain acceded to the International
handcuffed as he was being transported back to Fox Hill Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Elections to a
Prison in January. He had been recaptured following a new 40-seat House of Representatives took place in
prison escape in which a prison guard was killed. A November. Although political parties were officially
prison officer was subsequently found guilty of his banned in Bahrain, the al-Wefaq National Islamic
murder by a coroner’s jury, but the verdict was deferred Society, the main Shi’a Muslim opposition which had
pending a constitutional review; the officer remained boycotted the previous parliamentary elections in
on duty at the end of the year. 2002, won 17 seats, and two Sunni Muslim groups, the
b On 27 March, Deron Bethel, aged 20, was fatally al-Menbar National Islamic Society and the al-Asala
shot three times outside his home by a police officer Islamic Society, won a total of 12 seats. Pro-government
who claimed he mistook him for a criminal suspect. candidates won 10 seats. Latifa al-Ga’ood was the only
Investigations were ongoing at the end of the year. one of 18 women candidates to be elected.
Asylum-seekers and migrants Guantánamo Bay detainees
Immigrants, the vast majority from Haiti, continued to A Bahraini national, Salah al-Balooshi, who had been
be deported in large numbers. Some were reportedly detained by the US authorities at Guantánamo Bay,
ill-treated. On 8 April, 187 Haitians, including Cuba, was returned to Bahrain in October and released.
children, on the island of Eleuthera were rounded up Two other Bahraini nationals, ‘Issa ‘Abdullah al-
and detained. It was later found that 166 of them had Murbati and Juma’a Mohammed al-Dossari, continued
legal documents and 27 also had permanent to be held at Guantánamo Bay throughout 2006.
residence.
New counter-terrorism law
Corporal punishment In August the King, Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa,
In October Alutus Newbold was sentenced to 16 years’ ratified a new counter-terrorism law which had been
imprisonment and eight strokes of the rod for an attack approved by both the elected House of Representatives
on an 83-year-old woman in her home in 2004. The and the appointed Shura (Consultative) Council in July.
ruling sparked a debate about the continued use of The new law extended the use of the death penalty and
corporal punishment. prior to its introduction was criticized by both the UN
60 Amnesty International Report 2007

71.
BAN
Committee against Torture and the Special Rapporteur during which time they were allegedly beaten with
on the promotion and protection of human rights while sticks and kicked. The men were released in September
countering terrorism, who expressed concern that it after a pardon from the King. However, no investigation
could be used to penalize the peaceful exercise of into their alleged ill-treatment was known to have been
human rights. carried out.
Freedom of expression and association Death penalty
In July the House of Representatives approved In November the King ratified the death sentences
amendments to Decree no. 18 of 1973 on Public against three people. Mohammad Hanif Atta
Meetings, Processions and Gatherings, and referred it Mohammad, a Pakistani national, had been found guilty
to the Shura Council. Certain provisions of the decree, of the murder in August 2003 of Ibrahim al-Asmawi, a
as well as some of the proposed amendments, imposed Bahraini national. He was sentenced to death by the
serious restrictions on the rights to freedom of High Criminal Court and the sentence was upheld on
expression and of assembly. For example, the appeal. In a separate case two Bangladeshi nationals,
definition of “public gathering” was very broad, and Jasmine Anwar Hussain, a female domestic worker, and
even meetings held in private and involving a small Mohammad Hilaluddin, were sentenced to death in
number of people were subject to prior official November 2004. Their death sentences were upheld on
notification. Article 10(a) prohibited political rallies and appeal in December 2005. All three were executed by
meetings for non-citizens, while Article 10(b) banned firing squad in December 2006. These were the first
demonstrations for election purposes. The King ratified executions to be carried out in Bahrain since 1996.
the new law in July after its approval by the Shura
Council.
In October the High Criminal Court ordered a ban on
the publishing of any information relating to a report
issued in September by Salah al-Bandar, a UK national
and adviser to the Bahraini government. The report
alleged that officials had planned to manipulate the
outcome of the November parliamentary elections at
the expense of the majority Shi’a Muslim population.
He was deported to the UK the same month and later
charged with “illegally seizing government documents
and stealing two cheques”. He denied the charges.
BANGLADESH
In October the Minister of Information issued an
order banning seven internet websites on the basis of PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
Articles 19 and 20 of the Press and Publications Law of Head of state: Iajuddin Ahmed
2002. The reasons for the ban were not clear but were Head of government: Iajuddin Ahmed (replaced Begum
believed to be connected with the report published by Khaleda Zia in October)
Salah al-Bandar. A number of other websites were also Death penalty: retentionist
banned during the year. International Criminal Court: signed
Human rights activists
During the year several human rights activists were Human rights abuses by gangs linked to political
reportedly subjected to harassment in the form of parties continued in the context of widespread
anonymous threatening telephone calls telling them to political violence. Police used excessive force against
cease their human rights activities. For example, protesters seeking improved economic conditions,
human rights activists received calls warning them to and against opposition rallies. Mass arbitrary arrests
stop referring to Salah al-Bandar’s report in their work. of political activists took place. Scores of people were
killed in bomb attacks or in violent clashes between
Abuses of detainees the opposition and ruling party supporters. Women
b In August, 19 detainees, most of whom were being continued to face violence, including acid attacks.
held at the Dry-Dock prison on the Island of Muharraq, Death sentences were handed down and one
were beaten by riot police after a court session, execution was carried out.
apparently after they announced their intention to go
on a hunger strike. They were protesting against their Background
detention without bail and repeated postponements of Escalating tension between the ruling coalition parties
the court sessions. The 19 detainees were arrested and the opposition alliance led to several violent
allegedly for holding an illegal gathering and clashes leaving scores of people dead and hundreds
sabotaging property in the town of Sanabis. After they more injured.
appeared before the High Criminal Court, they were In waves of mass protests, opposition parties led by
reportedly taken outside the prison grounds, their the Awami League called for the resignation of the Chief
hands tied behind their backs, and forced to lie face- Election Commissioner, claiming that he was a
down in the heat of the sun for more than two hours, supporter of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Amnesty International Report 2007 61

72.
BAN
They objected to the composition of the Election b At least five people were killed and more than 100
Commission and declared the compilation of the voters injured in Phulbari on 26 August when police and the
list to be biased and flawed. paramilitary force Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) fired live
The government relinquished office in late October ammunition into a crowd protesting against the
as scheduled. Following mass violent clashes between establishment of an open-pit coalmine by the British
the outgoing ruling party members and their firm Asia Energy Corporation. The government
opposition, the designated Chief Adviser for the eventually agreed to some of their demands, giving
caretaker government turned down the post. President assurances that no one would be forcibly evicted or
Iajuddin Ahmed appointed himself as the Chief Adviser lose their livelihoods because of the mine.
amid unresolved controversy that his decision was in
breach of the Constitution. Mass arbitrary arrests
There were waves of strikes and mass Thousands of people were arrested ahead of planned
demonstrations by garment factory workers, farmers rallies by opposition parties, and thousands more were
and primary school teachers seeking improved detained on suspicion of involvement in criminal
economic conditions. activity. The families of detainees were not informed of
their arrest and were forced to search for them in police
Cycle of violence and abuses stations. Many were held without charge or trial for
Bomb blasts occurred but apparently on a much lower weeks while others were released on bail after a few
scale than in previous years. Targets were mainly days.
opposition party members and court premises.
b On 31 October, a bomb attack took place in Rajshahi Violence against women
aimed at several opposition parties, including Gono Reports of women beaten to death or strangled for not
Forum. They claimed it was carried out by the meeting their husbands’ dowry demands continued.
Bangladesh Islamichatra Shibir cadres, the youth wing of Women were subjected to acid attacks. Domestic
the Jamaat-e-Islami party. On 15 November, eight people workers were ill-treated or killed if they failed to work
were reportedly wounded when a series of small bombs excessive hours.
exploded near the offices of the Awami League. No one b According to reports compiled by the Bangladesh
was known to have been brought to justice. Institute of Labour Studies, at least 169 female domestic
By the end of the year no one had been brought to workers were killed between 2000 and 2005 in Dhaka
justice for the August 2004 grenade attacks against the alone. Another 122 were critically injured and 52 were
Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina. raped. A significant proportion of the victims were
Electoral violence reportedly children.
Scores of people died in clashes between the ruling and
opposition parties in the run-up to the general Death penalty
elections. No one was known to have been brought to At least 130 people were sentenced to death and one
justice. man was executed.
b According to the human rights group Odhikar, at
least 50 people were killed and more than 250 injured AI country reports/visits
between 27 October and 5 November in violence that Reports
erupted between the two main parties over opposition • Bangladesh: Briefing to political parties for a human
demands which included the resignation of the Chief rights agenda (AI Index: ASA 13/012/2006)
Election Commissioner. • Bangladesh: Handover to caretaker government
marked by violence (AI Index: ASA 13/014/2006)
Police brutality
Police repeatedly attacked opposition rallies, targeted
leading activists and subjected them to severe beatings.
b Senior Awami League leader Saber Hossain
Chowdhury suffered head injuries when he was
severely beaten on 6 September by more than 12 police
officers.
b Asaduzzaman Noor, an opposition member of
parliament, was beaten by police on 12 September and
taken to hospital with severe back injuries. None of the
police officers involved was brought to justice.
Police continued to use excessive force including live
ammunition against demonstrators, causing dozens of
deaths and injuries to hundreds more.
b At least 17 people were killed in protests relating to
electricity shortages in the northern town of Kansat in
April after police fired live ammunition, rubber bullets
and tear gas to dispel the crowds. No independent
investigation was initiated into the killings.
62 Amnesty International Report 2007

73.
BEL
BELARUS claimed that Mikalay Astreyka, Enira Branizkaya,
Alyaksandr Shalayka, and Tsimafey Dranchuk were
organizing fraudulent exit polls and planning a violent
uprising. In August the four were convicted of
REPUBLIC OF BELARUS “organizing and running an unregistered organization
Head of state: Alyaksandr Lukashenka that infringes the rights of citizens”. Mikalay Astreyka
Head of government: Sergei Sidorsky was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, Tsimafey
Death penalty: retentionist Dranchuk to one year, and Enira Branizkaya and
International Criminal Court: not ratified Alyaksandr Shalayka to six months each. All four were
released before the end of 2006.
b At the end of December 2005 the Supreme
The clampdown on civil society continued. The Economic Court renewed its investigation into alleged
number of convictions of civil society activists tax evasion by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, the
increased as legal changes limiting freedom of only remaining national human rights organization
association introduced at the end of 2005 came into still operating in the country. On 1 March, Tatiana
effect. Opposition activists were subjected to Protko, the chair, was accused of not paying tax on a
harassment and arbitrarily detained. Mass grant provided by an EU programme. A 1994
detentions of peaceful demonstrators took place memorandum, agreed by the Belarusian authorities
after presidential elections in March. The and the EU, granted tax exemption for this
government did not adequately protect women programme. Two court decisions in 2004 had
against violence in the home. Use of the death confirmed that the organization’s activities were
penalty continued. No progress was made in lawful. As a result of the renewed investigation, the
investigations into four cases of enforced organization faced a potential fine of US$70,000 for
disappearance. tax evasion, and possible closure. On 23 June, the
Ministry of Justice lodged a separate claim with the
Background Supreme Court for the closure of the organization on
Violations of the rights to freedom of expression and the grounds that it had violated tax laws. This case
assembly were repeatedly condemned by the was continuing at the end of the year. On 1 November
international community. The Election Observation the Belarusian Economic Court decided to confiscate
Mission of the Organization for Security and Co- property worth US$118,300 towards payment of the
operation in Europe criticized the conduct of the tax that it ruled was owing. The property was removed
presidential elections on 19 March. It found that on 5 December. On 19 December the property
“arbitrary use of state power and widespread department of the presidential administration
detentions showed a disregard for the basic rights of informed the organization that they must vacate their
freedom of assembly, association and expression”. In office premises by 20 January 2007. Without a legally
conclusions passed on 10 April, the Council of the registered address the organization would cease to be
European Union (EU) criticized the elections and legal.
condemned the violence used by the Belarusian
authorities against demonstrators and the arrests of Detentions of peaceful demonstrators
demonstrators and members of the opposition. The EU Large numbers of peaceful demonstrators were
instituted restrictive measures against 31 officials detained and beaten by riot police and anti-terrorist
responsible for violations of international electoral forces during demonstrations following the March
standards and for the crackdown on civil society and elections. According to the human rights group Vyasna,
democratic opposition. The list of officials against a total of 686 people were detained during the period
whom such restrictive measures would be applied was 19-25 March. Most of those detained were charged with
added to subsequently. On 18 May the EU froze the administrative offences, such as participation in
assets of President Lukashenka and 35 other officials. unsanctioned meetings or hooliganism, which carry
sentences of 10 to 15 days’ detention.
Clampdown on freedom of association b On 27 April, five leading members of the Belarusian
Non-governmental organizations continued to face opposition were tried and convicted under Article 167
stringent controls and checks on their activities. A of the Administrative Code, of “organizing an
number of civil society activists were detained or unsanctioned meeting”. The charges related to a
charged under Article 193 of the Criminal Code which peaceful march to commemorate the 20th anniversary
was amended in November 2005 to include a prison of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on 26 April. The
sentence of up to three years for “organizing and marchers had received permission to march to
running an unregistered organization that infringes the Bangalore Square in Minsk where speeches were to
rights of citizens”. take place. However, Alyaksandr Milinkevich
b Four members of the non-governmental reportedly addressed the crowd before the march
organization Initiative Partnership, which was planning began. He and two others — Vintsuk Vyachorka and
to monitor the presidential elections, were arrested at Alyaksandr Bukhvostov — were sentenced to 15 days’
their offices on 21 February by officers from the imprisonment. Zmitser Dashkevich and Sergei Kalyakin
Committee for State Security (KGB). The KGB initially were sentenced to 14 days.
Amnesty International Report 2007 63

74.
BEL
Harassment of opposition activists Death penalty
Opposition activists were harassed and intimidated and According to press reports nine death sentences were
increasingly sentenced for criminal offences in an passed during 2006. There was no official information
attempt to discredit them. on the number of executions carried out and death
b On 10 May, Artur Finkevich, a member of the sentences imposed.
Malady Front youth political movement, was sentenced
to two years’ corrective labour by the court of Update
Pershamajski district for writing political graffiti. Artur No progress was made in establishing the fate of four
Finkevich was charged under Article 339, Part 2 of the people who may have been the victims of enforced
Criminal Code with “malicious hooliganism”. In the disappearance in 1999 and 2000 and who were widely
past, youth opposition activists were sentenced under believed to have been killed by state agents.
the Administrative Code to short-term sentences for
graffiti writing. There was concern that the authorities AI country reports/visits
may have used the Criminal Code for political reasons Reports
to deter other activists. • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
International’s concerns in the region, January-June
Prisoners of conscience 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
Eleven prisoners of conscience were held during • Commonwealth of Independent States: Positive
the year. trend on the abolition of the death penalty but more
b On 13 July, Alyaksandr Kazulin, presidential needs to be done (AI Index: EUR 04/003/2006)
candidate in the March elections, was sentenced to five • Belarus: Domestic Violence – more than a private
and a half years’ imprisonment for “hooliganism” and scandal (AI Index: EUR 49/014/2006)
“organizing group activities that breach public order or Visit
actively participating in similar activities”. There was AI delegates visited Belarus in February.
concern that these charges were part of an ongoing,
systematic campaign of harassment, intimidation and
obstruction by the Belarusian authorities against
Alyaksandr Kazulin.
b In April Mikhail Marinich, a prominent opposition
activist and presidential candidate in 2001, was
released early for health reasons. He had been
convicted in December 2004 of fabricated charges of
“embezzlement by means of abuse of his official
position executed on a large scale” and sentenced to
five years’ imprisonment later reduced to three and
BELGIUM
a half.
b Valerii Levonevskii was released on 15 May, having KINGDOM OF BELGIUM
served the full two years of his sentence. Valerii Head of state: King Albert II
Levonevskii and Alexander Vasiliev, the president and Head of government: Guy Verhofstadt
vice-president respectively of the national strike Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
committee of market traders, had been sentenced to International Criminal Court: ratified
two years in prison in September 2004 for publicly
insulting President Lukashenka in a satirical leaflet.
Alexander Vasiliev had been released from prison on Poor conditions in immigration centres and police ill-
7 July 2005 under an amnesty announced by the treatment of migrants and asylum-seekers
President to commemorate the end of the Second continued. Migrant minors were held in closed
World War. detention centres for illegal immigrants and failed
asylum-seekers. Irregular migrants occupied public
Violence against women buildings and went on hunger strike to support
Despite some progress, measures to protect women demands for legislative reforms. The murder of a
from violence in the family remained inadequate. woman and child in Antwerp and other incidents
There was a lack of mandatory government training reflected the persistence of racist violence.
programmes for police, judges and medical staff. Key Overcrowding and sub-standard prison conditions
agencies such as law enforcement officers and the prompted strikes by staff. New evidence indicated
courts failed to record cases of domestic violence in a that secret US flights may have landed on Belgian
systematic manner. territory. Belgium became the first country to ban
There were no accurate statistics on the numbers of cluster bombs.
victims of domestic violence, but in 2005, 166 people
were murdered in the home, and 2,736 women were Asylum and immigration
victims of crimes in the home. The lack of public New asylum laws in July required new asylum petitions,
awareness and support meant many women were including appeals, to be processed within 12 months.
unable to escape violent situations. The asylum procedure was reformed to grant subsidiary
64 Amnesty International Report 2007

75.
BEL
protection for those not covered by the 1951 UN Refugee He openly stated that he had targeted foreigners.
Convention but who risk serious rights violations if they Preliminary investigations were concluding at the end
return to their country of origin. However, the new of 2006, but the trial date had not yet been fixed.
legislation did not address the situation of irregular
migrants. The number of asylum applications ‘War on terror’
continued to decline. In March press reports alleged there had been at least
Throughout 2006 a number of churches and public two secret flights by the US Central Intelligence Agency
buildings were occupied by irregular migrants and (CIA) that landed briefly at Deurne airport in Antwerp
failed asylum-seekers demanding regularization of in July 2002. It was not known whether the planes were
their situation, an end to expulsions and the shutting transporting detainees. An investigation by the
down of closed detention centres. The government European Parliament found that, of 1,080 stopovers by
regularized the status of many of the migrants who suspected CIA flights in Europe, four concerned
occupied the church of Saint Boniface in Brussels in Belgium. A Belgian Senate committee in July found
February and March. In May, there were hunger strikes there was insufficient supervision of operations by
in four asylum reception centres. foreign intelligence services on Belgian territory,
Migrant children continued to be detained in closed making it impossible to ascertain the destination and
detention centres in violation of international law. purpose of such flights.
Police ill-treatment
Police officers allegedly ill-treated individuals being Prison conditions
forcibly deported. Prisoner numbers reached a new high. One third of
b On 1 August a third attempt was made to expel prisoners were on remand. Specialized centres for
Hawa Diallo, a failed asylum-seeker from the Republic minors were overcrowded, and juvenile offenders were
of Guinea, but was aborted after passengers sometimes held in mainstream prisons. A law on youth
disembarked in protest at her treatment. The evening assistance passed in May included plans to construct a
before, she had been separated from her 19-month-old special prison for 200 juvenile offenders.
baby until the time of the flight. The five police officers In April the European Committee for the Prevention
accompanying her were reported to have assaulted and of Torture reported allegations of ill-treatment in
racially insulted her. Following the failed deportation, police custody. The Committee condemned
she was freed under orders to leave Belgium within five overcrowding at the psychiatric unit in Namur prison,
days. From hiding, she lodged a complaint of ill- cage-like cells at the law courts in Liège, and poor
treatment with the Permanent Commission for Control conditions for people refused admission to the country
of Police Services. at the detention centre at Brussels airport.
b In a landmark ruling on 12 October the European In April there was a strike at Forest prison in
Court of Human Rights found that Belgium was in Brussels. The GCPS (public services trade union)
violation of the prohibition of inhuman treatment and attacked prison overcrowding, poor conditions,
right to respect of private and family life guaranteed buildings it considered breached health, hygiene and
under the European Convention on Human Rights. In safety requirements, and the “wholly insufficient” six-
2002 an unaccompanied five-year-old asylum-seeker week basic training for staff. In August staff at the
had been detained and subsequently deported prison in Termonde went on strike in protest at
unaccompanied back to the Democratic Republic of the overcrowding and understaffing following the escape
Congo, her country of origin, where there was no family of 28 prisoners. In September they renewed strike
member to meet her. action, claiming that promised improvements had not
materialized.
Racism and discrimination
Under a March directive, the police started to record Arms control
crimes motivated by racism. The Centre for Equal Belgium became the first country to ban cluster bombs
Opportunities said it received 1,000 complaints of when Parliament adopted a law banning their
racism a year, noting that many attacks were never production, stockpiling, transportation and trade on 8
reported. June. In 1995, Belgium was the first country to prohibit
b In April, Daniel Féret, president of the National anti-personnel landmines.
Front party, was convicted of inciting racial hatred and
sentenced to 10 years’ exclusion from political office AI country reports/visits
and 250 hours of community service. He had distributed Report
election materials likening immigrants to criminals, • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
savages and terrorists. The National Front’s website International concerns in the region, January-June
manager was also convicted and fined. The court did 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
not order dissolution of the party for lack of evidence
linking it to the offending texts. The Court of Appeal
confirmed the conviction in October.
b On 11 May an 18-year-old resident of Antwerp shot
and killed a pregnant black woman and the white child
in her care, and seriously wounded a Turkish woman.
Amnesty International Report 2007 65

76.
BOL
BOLIVIA Children
In July a study by the UN Development Programme and
UNICEF reported that over 230 babies in Bolivia died
per day through lack of proper care, six out of 10
REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA children and minors lacked basic needs and five out of
Head of state and government: Evo Morales Ayma 10 lived below the poverty line. The report called on
(replaced Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé in January) Bolivia to recognize the role played by children in the
Death penalty: abolitionist for ordinary crimes country’s development and to implement health,
International Criminal Court: ratified education and other programmes to tackle the lack of
protection for children and to defend their rights.
Peasants were killed during a joint security force Eradication of coca leaf crops
operation to eradicate coca crops. There were In September two peasants were killed and one
demonstrations calling for the right to land. Deaths wounded during the eradication of coca leaf crops
were reported during violent clashes between around the Carrasco National Park in the region of
miners. Prison conditions were poor. Yungas de Vandiola, Department of Cochabamba, by a
patrol of the Joint Task Forces made up of members of
Background the police and army.
President-elect Evo Morales Ayma, the leader of the
Movement to Socialism party (Movimiento al Miners conflict
Socialismo, MAS), took office in January. A National In October, at least nine miners were killed and dozens
Development Plan to improve access to fundamental injured in clashes between state-employed miners and
rights such as health, education and justice and to end members of an independent co-operative in the mining
discrimination was announced. However, no town of Huanuni, La Paz Department. The confrontation,
information was forthcoming on its implementation. in which dynamite and firearms were allegedly used, was
A programme of reforms was initiated, including the sparked by a dispute over the access rights to working
formation of the Constituent Assembly which was areas in the tin mine. An investigation was launched.
inaugurated in August to rewrite the Constitution. A
decree was passed in May to nationalize oil and gas and Prison conditions
renegotiate contracts with foreign investors and There were reports of poor prison conditions. In
companies, to raise taxes and to set terms for the Palmasola prison in the city of Santa Cruz, five inmates
acquisition of shares by the State. A programme of land were killed in April, allegedly as a result of a fight
reform was launched in June which included the between rival gangs of prisoners who were attempting
distribution of state-owned land to peasants and to impose their rule inside the prison.
Indigenous people. In November, inmates in 19 prisons around the
In November, following demonstrations by country started a hunger strike demanding prompt
Indigenous groups calling for further reforms, a law for trials and better prison conditions.
agrarian reform was passed by Congress and signed by
the President. Under the new law, unproductive private Impunity
land could be expropriated by the government for In December, the Attorney General’s Office charged
redistribution to peasants. This reform was opposed by former President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and two
landowners in the Departments of Santa Cruz, Beni and former ministers with the killing of at least 60 people
Pando which, along with the Department of Tarija, during demonstrations in October 2003. The authorities
sought autonomy during the year. were seeking Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada’s extradition
In December, civilian groups, members of Indigenous from the USA to try him for the killings.
non-governmental organizations, political groups,
journalists and community leaders, clashed in Santa Intergovernmental organizations
Cruz Department in the context of the local In November, after a visit to Bolivia, the Inter-American
consultation for regional autonomy. Premises of the Commission on Human Rights highlighted the lack of
MAS and offices of Indigenous community centres were access to justice, particularly in rural areas, and the lack
set on fire, and members of Indigenous groups had their of co-operation by the security and armed forces in
houses ransacked. Investigative journalists were providing relevant information to the judicial authorities.
attacked in the streets of Santa Cruz city and radio It expressed concern about poor conditions and the high
stations were forced to stop transmission due to level of overcrowding in prisons and the fact that over
harassment. 70 per cent of prisoners had not been sentenced. It also
Bolivia ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN noted that minors were held with adult prisoners.
Convention against Torture in May, the Additional
Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights AI country reports/visits
in the Area of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Statement
known as the “Protocol of San Salvador” in July, and the • Bolivia: Open letter to the President of the Republic
Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish of Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma (AI Index: AMR
Torture in November. 18/001/2006)
66 Amnesty International Report 2007

77.
BOS
BOSNIA AND International prosecutions for war crimes
The Tribunal continued to try alleged perpetrators of
serious violations of international humanitarian law.
HERZEGOVINA Former Serbian President Slobodan Milo®evi» died at
the Tribunal Detention Unit following a heart attack on
11 March. He had been on trial before the Tribunal for
war crimes and crimes against humanity in BiH, Croatia
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA and Kosovo, and for genocide in BiH.
Head of state: rotating presidency – Ûeljko Kom®i», b In March, Enver Hadûihasanovi» and Amir Kubura,
Neboj®a Radmanovi», Haris Silajdûi» former Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ABiH)
Head of government: Adnan Terzi» commanders, were sentenced to five and two and a half
President of the Federation of Bosnia and years’ imprisonment, respectively. They were
Herzegovina: Niko Lozan½i» convicted of failing to prevent or punish crimes against
President of the Republika Srpska: Milan Jeli» (replaced non-Bosniaks by volunteer foreign fighters, Enver
Dragan ¼avi» in November) Hadûihasanovi» for crimes including murder and cruel
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes treatment, and Amir Kubura for the plunder of villages.
International Criminal Court: ratified b In May, Ivica Raji», a former commander of the
Croatian Defence Council (HVO), the Bosnian Croat
armed forces, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment
Many perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against for his involvement in the attack on the village of Stupni
humanity during the 1992-95 war continued to Do. The Tribunal found that forces under his command
evade justice, and thousands of enforced wilfully killed at least 37 people. He had admitted
disappearances remained unresolved. Lack of full charges of wilful killing, inhuman treatment,
co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal appropriation of property, and extensive, unlawful and
for the former Yugoslavia (Tribunal) by the Republika wanton destruction not justified by military necessity.
Srpska (RS) was an obstacle to justice. Progress was b In June, Dragan Zelenovi», former sub-commander
made in the domestic prosecution of war crimes, of the RS military police and paramilitary leader in
including in proceedings at the War Crimes Chamber Fo½a, was transferred to the Tribunal’s custody. He had
in Sarajevo, although efforts to bring perpetrators to been arrested in the Russian Federation in 2005. He
justice were insufficient. Minorities faced faced charges of torture and rape as war crimes and
discrimination, including in employment and in crimes against humanity against the non-Serb
access to education. Approximately 3,600 refugees population in Fo½a, for allegedly raping, sexually
and internally displaced people had returned to their assaulting and participating in the gang rape of
homes by October. detained women.
b Also in June Naser Ori», former commander of the
Background Srebrenica Armed Forces Staff, was convicted of failing
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) remained divided in two to prevent murders and the cruel treatment of Bosnian
semi-autonomous entities, the RS and the Federation of Serb prisoners in 1992 and 1993. He was sentenced to
Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), with a special status two years’ imprisonment.
granted to the Br½ko District. b In September, Mom½ilo Kraji®nik, who held high-
The international community continued to exert ranking positions in the Bosnian Serb leadership
significant influence over the country’s political between 1991 and 1995, was sentenced to 27 years’
process, in particular through a High Representative imprisonment for the persecution, extermination,
with executive powers nominated by the Peace murder, deportation and forced transfer of non-Serbs.
Implementation Council (PIC), an intergovernmental He was acquitted of genocide and complicity in
body monitoring the implementation of the Dayton genocide charges.
Peace Agreement. In June the PIC began preparing the Co-operation between the RS and the Tribunal
closure in June 2007 of the Office of the High remained inadequate and no progress was made by the
Representative (OHR). The engagement of the RS in locating former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan
international community was expected to continue Karadûi», indicted by the Tribunal on charges including
through a strengthened European Union (EU) Special genocide and still at large. In December, in her address
Representative. Approximately 6,000 troops of the to the UN Security Council, the Tribunal Prosecutor
EU-led peacekeeping force EUFOR remained. EUFOR’s noted that central institutions were not working
mandate was extended by the UN Security Council in efficiently and that the RS authorities, despite some
November for a further year. recent improvements, had not shown a robust
General elections in October, the first to be fully willingness to arrest Radovan Karadûi» and Stojan
administered by local authorities, showed that the Ûupljanin, the fugitives most likely to be in BiH.
electorate remained divided along ethnic lines. Under a “completion strategy” laid down by the UN
Widespread nationalist rhetoric included calls Security Council, the Tribunal was expected to
for a referendum on independence for the RS. A conclude all cases in 2010. As a result of the tight
new government had not been formed by the end deadlines imposed by the strategy, the Tribunal
of 2006. continued to refer cases involving lower level
Amnesty International Report 2007 67

79.
BRA
him with consular support, and take all necessary • Appeal to the United Nations Security Council to
steps to ensure he would not be subjected to the death ensure that the International Criminal Tribunal for
penalty, including by asking the US government for the former Yugoslavia fulfils its mandate (AI Index:
guarantees to that effect. EUR 05/006/2006)
In June, the Rapporteur appointed by the Committee • Bosnia and Herzegovina: Behind closed gates –
on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary ethnic discrimination in employment (AI Index: EUR
Assembly of the Council of Europe to investigate 63/001/2006)
alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state Visits
transfers of detainees, reported that the six men were An AI delegate visited BiH in January and March.
“a well documented example of the abduction of
European citizens and residents by the American
authorities with the active collusion of the authorities
of a Council of Europe member state”. The report called
for a credible diplomatic intervention by the BiH
authorities with the US government to secure the rapid
repatriation of the detainees.
Accountability of peacekeepers
In January, Italian members of EUFOR, during an
operation to arrest war crimes suspect Dragomir
BRAZIL
Abazovi», shot dead his wife, and seriously wounded
him and their 11-year-old son. Reportedly, a EUFOR FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL
internal investigation found the troops had acted in Head of state and government: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
self-defence and cleared them of any wrongdoing. An Death penalty: abolitionist for ordinary crimes
investigation by the East Sarajevo District Prosecutor International Criminal Court: ratified
reportedly found indications that the EUFOR troops
fired first. The outcomes of both investigations were
forwarded to the competent Prosecutor in Italy. Problems within the public security, prison and
judicial systems, including systematic human rights
Exclusion from education violations, contributed to persistently high levels of
Primary school attendance rates for Romani children criminal violence. The poorest communities bore the
were low, and extreme poverty remained one of the brunt of the tens of thousands of gun-related deaths.
main causes of the exclusion of Roma from education. Well over 1,000 people were killed in confrontations
Romani language, culture and traditions were not with the police in incidents classified as “resistance
included in a systematic way in school curricula. followed by death”, many in situations suggesting
Insufficient progress was made in the implementation excessive use of force or extrajudicial executions.
of the 2004 Action Plan on the Educational Needs of Torture continued to be widespread and systematic.
Roma and Members of Other National Minorities. A Access to land continued to be a focus of human
Council for National Minorities of Bosnia and rights violations, including forced evictions and
Herzegovina, tasked with overseeing its violent attacks on rural land activists, anti-dam
implementation, was formally created in April, but was campaigners, urban squatter movements and
not operational by the end of 2006. Indigenous peoples. Many people continued to work
in conditions equivalent to slave or indentured
Violence against women labour. Human rights defenders continued to be
In June the UN Committee on the Elimination of subjected to threats and attacks.
Discrimination against Women expressed concern that
BiH remained a country of origin, transit and Background
destination in the trafficking in women, and that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was re-elected for a
victims of sexual violence during the 1992-1995 war second (and final) term. His first term was marked by
suffered additional disadvantages as both female heads extensive allegations of political corruption across the
of households and IDPs. political spectrum.
Investigations into corruption highlighted direct and
AI country reports/visits indirect links to the erosion of human rights protection.
Reports There were extensive reports of misappropriation of
• Partners in crime: Europe’s role in US renditions public funds at all levels of the executive and
(AI Index: EUR 01/008/2006) legislature, which undermined the authorities’ capacity
• Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty to guarantee fundamental human rights through social
International’s concerns in the region, January-June services and increased the loss of public faith in state
2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006) institutions. In particular, there were a number of high
• False starts: The exclusion of Romani children from profile cases of alleged corruption in Congress. The
primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, involvement of state officials in criminal activity
Croatia and Slovenia (AI Index: EUR 05/002/2006) resulted in human rights violations and an apparent
Amnesty International Report 2007 69

80.
BRA
increase in organized crime across the country. Law pre-empting any thorough investigation. According to
enforcement officials were reportedly involved in the official figures, in the first nine months of 2006 Rio de
drugs trade, selling guns, and smuggling arms, mobile Janeiro police killed 807 people, a slight increase on the
phones and drugs to members of criminal gangs in previous year, while in São Paulo 528 people were killed
detention. by police, more than the total for the whole of 2005.
President Lula’s first term was also marked by Police and prison guards were themselves vulnerable
targeted social investment coupled with tight fiscal to attack and many were killed.
policy. Central to the government’s social policy was In May the state of São Paulo was shaken by violence
the family grant (bolsa família), under which around by criminals and police. Between 12 and 20 May,
11 million poor families received grants when they sent members of the First Command of the Capital (Primeiro
children to primary school. This combined policy was Comando da Capital, PCC), a criminal gang born in the
welcomed in some sectors for bringing economic state’s prison system, took to the streets in a massive
stability while reportedly achieving some reductions in display of organized violence. Allegedly protesting
social inequality. However, other sectors, including against prison conditions and the transfer of their
social movements, expressed concern at the budget leaders to a high security prison, they killed over 40 law
restraints applied to social investment in other areas, enforcement officers, burned more than 80 buses,
namely public security, land reform and indigenous attacked police stations, banks and a metro station,
rights, in order to sustain debt payments and the and co-ordinated revolts and hostage-taking in around
budget surplus. half of the state’s prisons. In response, police reported
While the introduction of legislation to criminalize that they had killed over 100 “suspects”.
domestic violence and the further development of In several incidents in poor communities across the
programmes to combat torture and protect human state of São Paulo, people were killed by masked men in
rights defenders were welcomed, there was a clear situations suggesting extrajudicial executions or
reluctance to address a number of issues. Of greatest “death-squad” style revenge killings. State authorities
concern was the area of public security where there only provided details of those killed by the police
was a continued lack of effective political attention. following a threat of legal action by the Public
None of the presidential candidates and few candidates Prosecutor’s office. At the height of the violence, 117
for state governor offered genuine long-term solutions people died in firearms-related incidents in a single
to address the tens of thousands of homicides day. The PCC launched further attacks, killing a number
committed across the country each year. Faced with of prison guards in July. Federal and state government
ever higher levels of violence, state and federal leaders responses to the violence were widely criticized in the
continued to seek political advantage by offering media, by public security experts, by police officers and
reactive and short-term solutions. by human rights activists for seeking to take political
Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN advantage ahead of elections rather than finding a
Convention against Torture was passed by Congress, resolution to the violence.
although reforms to bring Brazil’s legislation in line The state authorities in Rio de Janeiro adopted
with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal increasingly militarized tactics in their attempts to
Court were persistently blocked. combat drug gangs which held sway over most of the
city’s shanty towns. An armoured troop carrier,
Criminal justice system colloquially called the “caveirão”, was used to police
The criminal justice system continued to deteriorate in the poorest parts of the city. There were reports of
the face of long-term negligence by the federal and bystanders being killed by military police officers
state governments. Promised reforms were not shooting indiscriminately from “caveirões”. In March
implemented, resulting in unprepared and under- the army deployed troops and tanks on the streets of
funded police, judicial and prison systems being forced Rio de Janeiro’s shanty towns in an effort to track down
to deal inadequately with extreme levels of criminal stolen guns. Although federal prosecutors challenged
violence. This contributed to systematic human rights the legality of the operation, neither the state nor
violations by law enforcement officials, including federal governments questioned the army’s decision to
excessive use of force, extrajudicial executions, torture take to the streets. However, residents complained of
and ill-treatment as well as widespread corruption. arbitrary, violent and discriminatory treatment by
Attempts by certain state authorities to define public soldiers who were neither trained nor mandated to
security problems as a war saw the increasing adoption carry out such operations.
of military tactics by state police forces. The poorest In December Rio de Janeiro state and municipal
communities, enjoying least protection from the state, authorities announced they were investigating reports
were doubly victimized, suffering the highest that up to 92 favelas (shanty towns) had come under the
concentrations of violent crime and the repressive and control of paramilitary-style militias. According to
discriminatory methods used by the police to combat it. reports the militias were made up of active and former
police officers working with the support of local
Human rights violations by police and army politicians and community leaders. Militias were
Police officers killed well over 1,000 people. These reportedly providing “security” for these communities.
killings were rarely investigated fully, as they were However, residents reported the extensive use of
registered as “resistance followed by death”, often violence and the extortion of protection money. Some
70 Amnesty International Report 2007

81.
BRA
communities claimed they had suffered violent and reports of violent treatment by guards. New-born
retaliation from drug factions when members of the babies were kept in cells with women, some of whom
militias withdrew from their communities. were reportedly ill, with limited health or safety
There were reports of “death squad”-style killings in facilities.
the north-eastern states of Bahia, Pernambuco and
Sergipe. Two men previously accused of involvement Impunity
with the “death squad” known as “the Mission” during The extreme slowness and ineffectiveness of the
the 1990s were appointed as Secretary of Public judicial system reinforced impunity for human rights
Security and head of the Military Police in the state of violations. In February the São Paulo State Supreme
Sergipe. Members of the state human rights commission Court absolved Colonel Ubiratan Guimarães for his role
expressed concern at the return of the “death squad” in the 1992 Carandiru prison massacre in which 111
following reports of several killings and enforced prisoners were killed. By the end of 2006, no other
disappearances. In one incident in April witnessed by police officer had stood trial for their part in the
over 50 people, three teenage boys were taken away by massacre.
members of the elite unit of the military police in the One important victory against the general tide of
community of Mosqueiro. One of the boys was allegedly impunity was the conviction in March of one of the five
tortured until he fainted and later regained military police officers accused of killing 29 residents in
consciousness in a wood. The other two boys the Baixada Fluminense district of Rio de Janeiro in 2005.
reportedly disappeared and by the end of the year no
trace of them had been found. Land and housing
b In April, members of the military police in Recife, Access to land and housing was a focal point for
Pernambuco state, reportedly detained a group of 14 extensive human rights violations. According to the
teenagers who were at the carnival. The police Pastoral Land Commission, 25 land activists were killed
reportedly tortured them, took them to a bridge over between January and October, including 16 in the state
the Capibaribe river and forced them to jump in. The of Pará. Millions of people suffered extreme social and
bodies of two of the boys, aged 15 and 17, were found economic deprivation as a result of being deprived of
two days later. An investigation was initiated and five access to land and housing both in urban and rural
police officers were charged with homicide and torture, areas.
but in June one of the boys testifying against the police Those fighting for the right to land, including
was shot dead. Indigenous peoples, land activists and urban squatter
groups, suffered forced evictions, threats and violent
Detention system attacks. Some were killed. Those seeking access to land
The detention system strained under the pressure of an were often denied access to justice. In some cases
ever-increasing prison population and inadequate judicial rulings were reported to have been
financial and political investment. There were regular discriminatory, and in others people faced allegedly
reports of torture and ill-treatment being used for politically motivated criminal charges.
control, punishment and corruption by police officers, b In August the Pará state court, a regional court,
prison guards and other detainees. Detention centres issued orders threatening a total of 4,000 families with
suffered from extreme overcrowding and poor sanitary forced evictions, with no alternative provision. A
conditions, while prison staff were unsupported and number of the settlements facing eviction were on land
under-trained. There were numerous riots and that was eligible for expropriation under legislation for
countless cases of prisoner-on-prisoner violence as agricultural reform as the farms upon which they were
many prisons fell under the control of criminal gangs. situated had been deemed “unproductive” or were
Belated attempts to break up the gangs saw the further illegally located or were found to be using slave or
use of “super-max” style prisons, under the indentured labour. In September, lawyers for the
Differentiated Disciplinary System (Regime Disciplinar Pastoral Land Commission managed to have some
Diferenciado, RDD), previously criticized by both the evictions suspended, but many families remained
National Council on Criminal and Penal Policy of the under threat.
Ministry of Justice and the National Bar Association as There were continued reports of attempts to
contravening human rights protections set out both in undermine the work of social activists in the state of
the Constitution and under international law. Pernambuco, and efforts to criminalize their leaders. In
The breakdown of the prison system was exemplified May an association representing military police officers
in São Paulo state by the conditions in the Araraquara advertised on hoardings throughout Recife accusing
prison after riots in May. For several months 1,600 members of the landless workers’ movement of being
prisoners, including sick and injured, were kept in a lawless and out of control. Ten members of the landless
yard with space for 160 people while the prison workers’ movement were arrested on what were
underwent reconstruction. reported to be politically motivated charges.
There were persistent reports of violations against b Two separate arrest warrants were issued against
women in detention. AI witnessed conditions in the Jaime Amorim, a leader of the landless worker’s
Colônia Penal Feminina, a women’s prison in Recife, movement. The first was for allegedly leading an
which were extremely poor, with women sleeping on occupation onto land that a federal government body
the floor and in shower units, limited health facilities had ruled should be appropriated. The second followed
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public disturbances outside the US Consulate during b Vicente Cañas Costa, a Spanish Jesuit working in
President Bush’s visit to Brazil in November 2005. Jaime defence of Indigenous peoples, was murdered in 1987
Amorim was charged several days after the event with in the state of Mato Grosso. Nineteen years later, two of
disobedience, incitement to a crime and disrespecting the men suspected of his murder were brought to trial.
authority. He was detained while attending the funerals While human rights groups welcomed the court’s
of two landless activists killed in August. Both arrest recognition that Vicente Cañas Costa had indeed been
warrants were overturned and he was provisionally murdered, failures in the initial investigation
released. reportedly contributed to both men being acquitted.
In the state of Espírito Santo, the Tupiniquim and
Guarani Indigenous peoples suffered threats and AI country reports/visits
attacks, as a result of their long-standing campaign for Report
their hereditary lands. The disputed lands were • Brazil: “We have come to take your souls” – the
contested by Aracruz Celulose S/A, a leading producer caveirão and policing in Rio de Janeiro (AI Index:
of eucalyptus pulp. Although the federal government’s AMR 19/007/2006)
Indigenous Office had recognized the land as Visit
appropriate for demarcation, the decision to proceed AI delegates visited Brazil in May/June.
with the process was stalled.
b In January, members of the federal police violently
evicted Tupiniquim and Guarani peoples from
settlements built on disputed land. Thirteen Indigenous
people were injured and two villages were burnt down,
following attacks with helicopters, dogs, rubber bullets
and tear gas. According to reports, Aracruz Celulose S/A
gave logistical support to the federal police during the
eviction.
b In September, federal prosecutors initiated a
successful civil case against Aracruz Celulose S/A for
BULGARIA
promoting a discrimination campaign against the
Tupiniquim and Guarani peoples. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
Head of state: Georgi Parvanov
Slave labour Head of government: Sergey Stanishev
Advances were made in the fight against slave labour. Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
According to the International Labour Organization, International Criminal Court: ratified
18,000 people had been released since 1995 from debt
bondage by members of the federal government’s
mobile unit. However, the problem was far from Police reportedly targeted people for ill-treatment
eradicated. According to the Pastoral Land and excessive force on the basis of their ethnic
Commission, around 8,000 people a year were forced identity or sexual orientation. The human rights of
into situations equivalent to slave or indentured minorities were not adequately protected,
labour. Promised reforms to the Constitution to allow particularly the housing rights of Romani
for the confiscation of land where slave labour was communities threatened with unlawful and summary
used remained pending in Congress. eviction from their homes. People with mental
disabilities faced harsh living conditions and
Human rights defenders inappropriate care and treatment.
Human rights defenders continued to suffer
discrimination, threats and attacks. Many human rights Background
groups suffered a backlash in the wake of the violent President Georgi Parvanov, head of the Bulgarian
attacks by the PCC in São Paulo. Socialist Party, was returned to power in presidential
Efforts by the government to put in place its national elections in November.
human rights defenders programme led to initial In March, the Council of Europe Commissioner for
training sessions for state police officers in the state of Human Rights recommended that the government
Pará and preparation for similar training in the states of implement reforms of the justice system; make further
Pernambuco and Espírito Santo. However, it was efforts to eliminate corruption; strengthen the status,
reported that the project suffered from serious selection, training and pay of judges; adopt new Codes
shortfalls. Members of civil society participating in the of Administrative and Civil Procedure as a priority; and
project expressed several concerns, most notably the allow detained suspects unrestricted access to legal
lack of a properly resourced national body to oversee counsel. Concerns remained about the inappropriate
the programme and the continued reluctance of the use of firearms by law enforcement officials.
federal police to provide protection. In May, the European Commission recommended
The persistent failure of the authorities to bring that January 2007 be maintained as the date of
those responsible for the killings of human rights Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union (EU) only if
defenders to justice continued to place them at risk. serious deficits were remedied. In September it allowed
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accession to go ahead, despite continuing concerns (Ataka) party. They alleged that he incited others,
about corruption, on condition that the required through television broadcasts, publications and public
changes to the Civil Procedure Code, judicial system statements, to harass and discriminate against people
and Constitution were adopted. from ethnic, religious and sexual minorities.
In March parliament amended the Constitution to In November, the NGO International Helsinki
incorporate the Ombudsperson institution. A new Federation for Human Rights reported a rise in anti-
provision also allowed the institution to initiate cases minority rhetoric and discrimination.
before the Constitutional Court if it considers a law The Romani community
concerning citizens’ rights and freedoms to be In March the Council of Europe Commissioner for
unconstitutional. Human Rights recommended the government
Bulgaria signed the Council of Europe Convention on implement its national plan of 2003-2004 for
Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in integrating Roma and establishing a co-ordinated
November. policy for all minorities.
Also in March the government approved a national
Ill-treatment and excessive use of force programme for improving Romani housing conditions,
Representatives of the European Committee for the but discrimination in housing persisted.
Prevention of Torture, on a visit to Bulgaria in In July, as Bulgaria assumed the presidency of the
September, examined the treatment of detainees in the Decade of Roma Inclusion, a regional
custody of regular and border police; conditions in intergovernmental initiative to reduce social and
investigation detention facilities; regimes for prisoners economic exclusion and disparities, legal challenges
serving life sentences and foreign prisoners; and were initiated by Romani communities over instances
implementation of legal safeguards on compulsory of discrimination. The cases concerned threats to
placements to psychiatric institutions under the demolish houses and the refusal by Sofia Municipality
Health Act. to provide public transport in Sofia’s largest Roma
Reports of police ill-treatment continued, particularly settlement in the Fakulteta District.
against members of the Romani community and on the Plans to forcibly evict inhabitants of a number of
basis of people’s sexual orientation. Romani neighbourhoods in Sofia were suspended
b In January the Sofia Military Court ordered further after protests by members of the European
investigation in the case of Angel Dimitrov, who died Parliament. Some of Sofia’s district governments
during a police operation in Blagoevgrad in November continued to threaten forced evictions, and did little
2005, after his family opposed a request by the Sofia if anything to address the extreme poverty and denial
District Military Prosecutor for criminal proceedings to of human rights in many Romani communities. A
be halted. The police had used excessive force while working group was formed by the Sofia Municipality
arresting Angel Dimitrov, in violation of domestic and and Romani NGOs to propose solutions. In July, the
international law, the Ombudsperson reported in Ministry of Labour and Social Policy provided funds
March. to purchase caravans as a temporary solution for
b In February the European Court of Human Rights evicted residents.
found that Bulgaria had violated Zahari Stefanov’s b In April some residents demanded the removal of a
rights to life and to be free from torture and arbitrary Romani neighbourhood in Sofia’s Zaharna Fabrika
detention (Ognyanova and Choban v Bulgaria). In 1993 district. The mayor of Sofia said the city prosecutor
the 23-year-old, of Romani origin, died in Kazanluk would help the municipality find a legal way to move
police station. An official inquiry at the time concluded Romani residents, promising funds for temporary
that he had jumped of his own accord out of a third- shelters.
floor room where he was being questioned, and that all b In June the international human rights
his injuries were caused by the fall. organizations, the Centre on Housing Rights and
b In October, police reportedly used excessive force Evictions and the European Roma Rights Centre,
in quelling fighting involving 400 Roma in Pazardzhik. appealed to the government to stop unlawful
Officers were accused by Romani people and the evictions in Dobri Zhelyazkov and Batalova vodenitza,
regional governor of exceeding their powers by Sofia. The district government had ordered 16 Romani
entering homes and damaging property. families to leave their homes within 10 days or be
b In May the Commission for Protection against summarily evicted, although their communities had
Discrimination initiated an investigation in the case of lived on the land for generations. The authorities did
three police officers who allegedly ill-treated a gay man not provide reasonable justification, adequate notice,
in October 2005 because of his sexual orientation and consultation with those affected, compensation,
ethnic origin. The Commission concluded that during alternative housing or social support. The
his illegal 12-hour detention, the man was denied food municipality finally said that legal owners would be
and access to his relatives and medical assistance. compensated according to the law, and others would
be accommodated in freight containers adapted to
Racism and discrimination make them habitable.
In February, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) The Macedonian minority
and private individuals filed a civil lawsuit in Sofia City The authorities and the judiciary continued to deny the
Court against Volen Siderov, leader of the Attack existence of a Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, and
Amnesty International Report 2007 73

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insisted that there was no legal obligation to protect it,
a policy backed by all political parties represented in
parliament.
BURUNDI
b In October, the Sofia City Court refused registration
to OMO Ilinden PIRIN, a political party representing REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI
some members of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, Head of state: Pierre Nkurunziza
despite an October 2005 ruling by the European Court Death penalty: retentionist
of Human Rights that a previous ban of the party International Criminal Court: ratified
violated rights to freedom of association and assembly.
In November the European Parliament Rapporteur on
Bulgaria and the Enlargement Commissioner of the Continuing human rights abuses marred the hopes
European Commission urged the government to engendered by the 2005 elections, which heralded
register OMO Ilinden PIRIN. the end of 12 years of civil conflict. Human rights
violations by government forces included arbitrary
Concerns about mental health care arrests and detentions, torture and ill-treatment and
In March the Council of Europe Commissioner for extrajudicial executions. Until a ceasefire agreement
Human Rights urged the provision of decent living in September, the last armed group still engaged in
conditions for people with mental disabilities who lived fighting the government continued to commit
in social care centres and psychiatric hospitals that had human rights abuses, including killing civilians
not yet been refurbished. He also called for increased suspected of collaborating with government forces.
funds to feed people confined in institutions, and a The ruling party increasingly interfered with the
system to ensure judicial review of decisions to confine executive and the judiciary, and sought to silence
such people. criticism in the media, by political opponents and by
In June the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee reported human rights defenders.
that the sanitary facilities in these institutions were still
“in the poorest condition”, and that the procedures for Background
placements of patients for compulsory and involuntary The ruling party, the National Council for the Defence
treatment, provided under the Health Law of January of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy
2005, had not been implemented. (Conseil National Pour la Défense de la Démocratie-
In October, two NGOs, the Mental Disability Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie, CNDD-FDD),
Advocacy Centre and the Bulgarian Helsinki was widely accused of corruption. It undermined the
Committee, filed with the European Court of Human independence of the judiciary, and harassed and
Rights the case of a man they believed was needlessly intimidated the independent news media, political
detained in a psychiatric hospital and given psychiatric opponents and human rights defenders.
medication against his will, despite the In August, seven former high-level officials and
recommendations of five psychiatrists that he receive opposition political leaders were arrested for an alleged
outpatient treatment. coup attempt. Among them were former Vice-President
Alphonse-Marie Kadege, and former President Domitien
AI country reports/visits Ndayizeye, who was charged with “threatening state
Report security”. There were widespread doubts about whether
• Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty there had in fact been a coup attempt.
International’s concerns in the region, January-June On 6 September, the second Vice-President, Alice
2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006) Nzomukunda, resigned, citing corruption and political
interference by the chairman of the ruling party.
Armed conflict continued throughout the first half of
2006 between the Palipehutu-FNL, known as the FNL
(Forces nationales de libération), and government
armed forces (Forces de défense nationale, FDN) in the
provinces of Bujumbura rural, Bubanza and Cibitoke.
On 7 September, the government and FNL signed a
ceasefire agreement. However, several sensitive issues
remained unresolved, such as the integration of FNL
officers within the FDN.
Arbitrary arrests and detentions
The intelligence services, police and army were
responsible for numerous arbitrary and illegal arrests
and detentions. To justify arbitrary arrests and
detentions, the authorities cited national security and
accused detainees of involvement with the FNL, but it
appeared that many people were arrested and
detained illegally.
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b More than 1,000 people living in the province of arrested and reportedly tortured by two policemen. By
Bujumbura-mairie and surrounding provinces had by the end of 2006, no investigation had taken place.
April been detained for several months without being
brought before a judge. Only 34 of them were Freedom of expression under attack
prosecuted by the public prosecutor. The relationship between the authorities and the
Arbitrary and illegal arrests by local authorities were independent media was tense and confrontational.
also reported in other provinces, including Ngozi. State agents and the ruling party repeatedly threatened
b On 20 April a teacher at Don Bosco secondary journalists.
school in Ngozi was reportedly beaten, handcuffed and b On 17 April, after a press conference called by the
taken by police to the local cell in Kiremba. He was CNDD-FDD parliamentarian Mathias Basabose, in
unlawfully detained without being brought before a Kinindo, Bujumbura, 30 journalists were summoned by
judge for a few days. He was accused of having stolen the police to hand in their tapes and recording
firewood from the forest belonging to the local equipment so that the information could be checked.
administration. The journalists refused to comply with the orders and
were prevented from leaving the premises. Other
Extrajudicial executions journalists turned up to report this incident. Several
Throughout 2006, the intelligence services and the were reportedly beaten by police officers with gun
army were involved in extrajudicial executions of butts and truncheons.
civilians. b On 3 September Hussein Radjabu, the CNDD-FDD
b Between May and August, about 30 people in the chairman, delivered a speech to thousands of
province of Muyinga were arbitrarily arrested by supporters in which he threatened journalists if they
government armed forces, in conjunction with the continued to criticize the CNDD-FDD and the
intelligence service and local administration. government.
According to local sources, at least 16 were executed b Also on 3 September, the CNDD-FDD website
and their bodies dumped in rivers. Three state agents published a photograph of Gabriel Nikundana, the news
were arrested in connection with the killings, including editor of Isanganiro radio station, saying that he had
the head of the intelligence service in Muyinga. fled to Kenya. When it became clear that this story was
However, the authorities failed to arrest senior officials false, another article was published on the website on
who reportedly gave the execution orders, despite 5 September, linking Gabriel Nikundana to the alleged
issuing arrest warrants. coup attempt and describing him as “extremist”.
b On 4 August, in the commune of Kinama,
Bujumbura-mairie, four people were arrested on Prisoners of conscience
suspicion of being FNL members by police officers and a Throughout 2006, human rights defenders faced
former CNDD-FDD fighter reportedly working on behalf harassment, and some were arbitrarily detained for
of intelligence services. On 14 August, this former peacefully expressing opinions.
fighter took the four detainees away in a vehicle. The b On 5 May, Térence Nahimana, director of an NGO,
following day, their bullet-ridden bodies were found by Cercle d’initiative pour une vision commune (CIVIC),
local residents. The former CNDD-FDD fighter was wrote a letter to the President saying that the
detained in Mpimba prison, but several witnesses government was deliberately delaying peace
reported seeing him at large in Bujumbura. negotiations with the FNL. He was arrested on 9 May by
the national intelligence service. He was released after
Torture and ill-treatment three hours of questioning, but the following day he
The government failed to define torture in the was arrested again. On 15 May, he was formally charged
country’s laws and to align the Penal Procedure Code with “threatening state security” and detained in
and the Penal Code with international human rights Mpimba prison.
standards. b On 16 August, Gabriel Rufyiri, president of an NGO,
Allegations of torture and ill-treatment by the Observatoire de lutte contre la corruption et les
intelligence services, the police and other military and malversations économiques (OLUCOME), was
security forces were documented throughout 2006. arbitrarily arrested. He was illegally detained for
b On 23 January, Matrenus Ciragira and his family alleging that members of the government and the ruling
were attacked at night by people armed with shotguns party were involved in corruption. His organization had
and wearing police uniforms, in the commune of exposed the alleged improper sale of the presidential
Ruhororo, Ngozi province. During the attack, his wife plane and irregularities in government contracts.
was raped in front of their children. No investigation
was carried out. Violence against women
b Former Vice-President Alphonse-Marie Kadege Women of all ages were subjected to sexual violence,
was allegedly kicked repeatedly on his body by police including rape, in both rural and urban communities.
officers in an interrogation room on 2 August. Despite the end of the hostilities in most of the country,
b On 26 June, in the zone of Mivo, Ngozi commune, local human rights organizations reported a very high
two staff members of the non-governmental incidence of rape cases.
organization (NGO) Population Services International The state’s response was characterized by inaction,
involved in an AIDS awareness programme were and the criminal justice system provided scant
Amnesty International Report 2007 75

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protection. The police and judiciary often dismissed Although this meeting was significant, the
rape cases and failed to investigate them unless the government’s memorandum contained proposals
victim was a young child or they were put under which could hinder efforts to overcome impunity. For
pressure by local human rights organizations. example, it proposed a “procedure of reconciliation”
b V N, a 27-year-old woman living in the commune of which could prevent or limit the investigation and
Kamenge, was raped by two men who broke into her prosecution of crimes under international law.
house on 21 February. The men beat, gagged and raped Subsequent progress was very slow.
V N and her sister. Neither the local administration nor On 18 June in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania, the
the police carried out any investigation. Subsequently, government and FNL signed an agreement of principles
V N was rejected by her community. towards lasting peace, security and stability in Burundi.
It stated that the truth and reconciliation commission
Human rights abuses by the FNL (not yet established) would be renamed the “Truth,
Throughout the first half of 2006, the FNL threatened Pardon and Reconciliation Commission”. Its mandate
and intimidated the civilian population of Bujumbura would be to establish the facts surrounding “the dark
rural, Bubanza and Cibitoke, often demanding shelter, period of Burundi history” and various protagonists’
food and water. They also killed low-level government responsibilities, with a view to achieving forgiveness
officials and civilians suspected of collaborating with and national reconciliation.
government armed forces.
b On 16 January, Amélie Bapfumukeko, a council Death penalty
member in Nakibuye, Kanyosha commune, was After the release of 3,200 political prisoners, 218
abducted and killed by alleged FNL combatants. Her prisoners remained under sentence of death. The last
body was found the next day about 500 metres from her executions, of seven civilians, took place in 1997, but
house. She was accused by local FNL members of courts continued to pass death sentences.
collaborating with the government armed forces.
Refugees and internally displaced people
Administration of justice In February, the number of Rwandan refugees in
The justice system continued to suffer from lack of Burundi reached 20,000. By the end of 2006, about
resources and inadequate training. Furthermore, 16,000 had been repatriated by the UN refugee agency
government authorities and CNDD-FDD members UNHCR to Rwanda. Between January and December,
reportedly influenced judicial decisions improperly. about 32,000 Burundian refugees returned to Burundi
b On 16 February, a teacher at Gashikanwa secondary with UNHCR assistance. In June, UNHCR changed its
school (Ngozi province), who was also a CNDD-FDD policy from facilitation to promotion of the
member, was arrested by police on suspicion of having repatriation.
raped five of his pupils. Once his arrest became known, At the end of 2006, more than 100,000 people still
the public prosecutor in charge of the investigation lived in internally displaced people’s camps, mainly in
received threatening phone calls from members of the the northern and eastern provinces.
security services and CNDD-FDD parliamentarians
demanding the teacher’s release. The public prosecutor AI country reports/visits
eventually released him, and there were no further Reports
investigations into the rapes either by the police or the • Burundi: Provisional immunity does nothing to end
public prosecutor’s office. impunity (AI Index: AFR 16/001/2006)
• Burundi: Towards what reconciliation? (AI Index:
Mechanisms to combat impunity AFR 16/003/2006)
The authorities sent mixed messages during the year • Burundi: Journalists and human rights monitors
about their willingness to tackle the issue of impunity under attack (AI Index: AFR 16/004/2006)
effectively. • Burundi: Detention measures abused (AI Index: AFR
On 3 January the President decreed that political 16/011/2006)
prisoners should be granted “provisional immunity”, in • Burundi: From Itaba to Gatumba – an imperative
accordance with clauses in the Arusha peace need for justice (AI Index: AFR 16/014/2006)
agreement of 2000. A few days later, the Minister of • Burundi: Briefing to the Committee against Torture
Justice announced the provisional release of 673 (AI Index: AFR 16/016/2006)
political prisoners. By the end of March more than 3,200 Visits
prisoners had been released. However, this decision AI delegates visited Burundi to research violence
was not followed by any concrete and targeted against women and the demobilization, disarmament
measures to combat impunity. and reintegration process in February. AI delegates also
In early February the government issued a attended a workshop with human rights defenders.
memorandum in order to commence talks with the UN
on setting up a truth and reconciliation commission
and a special chamber to investigate crimes committed
in Burundi and bring those responsible to justice. At the
end of February, a UN mission arrived in Bujumbura to
prepare for negotiations on these mechanisms.
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CAMBODIA increased prevalence of diarrhoea, skin infections,
malnutrition and respiratory infections, particularly
among children and the elderly.
The forced eviction impoverished an already poor
KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA community by depriving them of their land and
Head of state: King Norodom Sihamoni livelihoods. It took place despite the call two weeks
Head of government: Hun Sen earlier by the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes housing and the UN Secretary-General’s Special
International Criminal Court: ratified Representative on human rights defenders for an end
to the evictions and immediate action to ensure that
these families had access to adequate housing
The land crisis continued unabated; over 10,000 consistent with Cambodia’s human rights obligations.
urban poor were forcibly evicted from their homes On 29 June, armed forces began the forcible eviction
and thousands of rural dwellers lost their lands and of 168 families living next to Phnom Penh’s Preah
livelihoods in land disputes. The authorities Monivong Hospital. Houses were demolished and the
continued to use the courts in an effort to curtail residents, some of whom had lived on the land since
peaceful criticism. Restrictions on freedom of 1988, were resettled some 30km from the city without
assembly were maintained. basic facilities.
In both instances police cordoned off the area of
Background eviction, preventing journalists and human rights
A government-led crackdown on peaceful critics ended workers from monitoring events.
in February with a deal between the Prime Minister and Local human rights defenders were targeted by law
some adversaries, leading to the release of several enforcement agencies in connection with forced
prisoners of conscience, among them opposition evictions and land disputes both in urban and rural
parliamentarian Cheam Channy. The opposition leader, areas. At least 15 land rights activists were detained
Sam Rainsy, returned from exile after he received a during the year.
royal pardon.
The government’s junior coalition partner, the Legal system
National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Long-awaited reform including laws governing the
Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC), judiciary and criminal justice system did not take place.
faced crisis as Prime Minister Hun Sen of the ruling The anti-corruption law, which had been set as a top
Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) stepped up pressure priority in the concluding statement of the annual
against party president Prince Norodom Ranariddh and donors’ meeting in March, was not passed. Instead a
his followers. Some 75 senior FUNCINPEC officials were new anti-corruption body under the powerful Council
dismissed from the government and the National of Ministers was established by the government in
Assembly, culminating in an extraordinary FUNCINPEC August, comprising senior officials of the ruling party.
congress on 18 October in which Keo Puth Raksmey A Law on the Status of Parliamentarians was passed
became the new party president. In November Prince in August, which limits freedom of expression for
Ranariddh launched the Norodom Ranariddh Party by parliamentarians. An anti-adultery law imposing
joining and taking the lead of the small ultra-nationalist custodial sentences was voted through the following
Khmer Front Party. month, and a law introducing compulsory military
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visited service – in sharp contrast to government pledges to
Cambodia in May and concluded that the strengthening reduce the armed forces – was passed by the National
of the judicial branch of governance was crucially Assembly in October.
important for the consolidation of democracy under In his address to the UN Human Rights Council on
the rule of law. 26 September, the UN Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia said
Land and housing that the government had used prosecutors and judges,
Land concessions and other opaque land deals between while pretending to uphold their independence, to
business interests and the authorities continued. In a intimidate or punish critics. He stated that the
series of forced evictions in June and July around government had applied the law selectively and that its
10,000 urban poor in Phnom Penh lost their homes to supporters had enjoyed immunities from the civil and
well-connected businessmen without adequate criminal process for blatant breaches of the law.
consultation, compensation or legal protection. b Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, who were
b At dawn on 6 June several hundred security sentenced in August 2005 to 20 years’ imprisonment
officials armed with rifles, tear gas and electric batons for the murder of trade union leader Chea Vichea
began the forced eviction of Sambok Chab village in following an unfair trial, remained in prison. After
central Phnom Penh. Around 5,000 villagers were significant domestic and international pressure
forced into vans and taken to a relocation site some 20 calling for their release following testimony from a
kilometres from the city centre, an area which lacked new witness, an appeals hearing was announced for
clean water, electricity, health clinics and schools. The 6 October. As one of the judges did not appear in court
lack of basic amenities at the relocation site led to the hearing was postponed.
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Freedom of speech and assembly
The widely used and controversial criminal defamation
law was reformed in May, with the custodial sentence
CAMEROON
removed. Several high-profile cases were suspended.
Subsequently the law against disinformation, which has REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON
a maximum prison sentence of three years, was used in Head of state: Paul Biya
a number of cases to silence or intimidate critics, Head of government: Ephraim Inoni
including several journalists. Death penalty: retentionist
b Death threats were received by two local International Criminal Court: signed
journalists, Soy Sopheap of the CTN television channel
and You Saravuth of Sralanh Khmer newspaper, after
they reported alleged corruption by military and Nine men and four women were convicted for
government-linked individuals. You Saravuth was practising homosexuality. Scores of people were
forced to flee abroad. tortured by members of the security forces. Courts
Restrictions introduced in early 2003 on the right to convicted some officials of involvement in killings. At
assembly continued. Requests for permission to hold least two students were killed and many others
demonstrations were regularly refused by the detained during clashes with government forces.
authorities, while demonstrations and protests were Several journalists were briefly detained or beaten.
often broken up by force. Secessionist political activists were arrested and
detained.
The Extraordinary Chambers
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Background
were established on the outskirts of Phnom Penh to Nigeria formally handed the disputed oil-rich Bakassi
prosecute suspected perpetrators of gross human rights Peninsula to Cameroon in August and withdrew its
violations during the Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979). Due troops. Several thousand Nigerian nationals left the
to disagreements between national and international peninsula for mainland Nigeria. The handover
judges, a plenary session of the Chambers failed to adopt implemented an October 2002 decision of the
the tribunal’s internal rules which are required to launch International Court of Justice.
investigations and prosecutions. There was renewed More than 80 members of the Kedjom Keku
criticism of the lack of transparency in the recruitment of community in Northwest province accused of
Cambodian judges; some were on the ruling party’s central involvement in the killing of their former traditional
committee and others lacked basic legal training. chief were arrested between January and March. Many
Former Khmer Rouge leader Ta Mok, one of two were reportedly beaten at the time of their arrest.
detainees scheduled to face prosecution by the Former chief Simon Vugah, who was deposed in 2004,
Extraordinary Chambers, died on 21 July, never having was killed after he returned to Kedjom Keku to reclaim
been tried for his alleged role in crimes against his position. Those detained included Simon Vugah’s
humanity. successor, Benjamin Vubangsi, who was released with
about 60 others in September. At least 25 people were
AI country reports/visits held without trial in connection with the killing at the
Report end of 2006.
• Cambodia: The murder of trade unionist Chea Vichea A power struggle within the Social Democratic Front
– Still no justice (AI Index: ASA 23/008/2006) (SDF) opposition party culminated in the killing in May
Visit of Grégoire Diboulé, a supporter of Bernard Muna,
An AI delegation visited Cambodia in March. leader of a faction opposed to SDF chairman, John Fru
Ndi. More than 20 members of the SDF were arrested
and charged with involvement in the murder. They
were still awaiting trial at the end of the year. John Fru
Ndi was charged with complicity to murder and assault
but was not detained.
At least 400 people were rendered homeless in
November when the government demolished their
houses in the Etetak district of the capital, Yaoundé.
The government claimed that the houses had been built
without authorization, but provided no alternative
accommodation or compensation.
Several senior managers of state companies
accused of embezzlement were arrested after the
government launched an anti-corruption campaign in
January. Those detained included Siyam Siwé, a
former director general of the Autonomous Port of
Douala, and Barthélemy Kamdem, the company’s
assistant financial director. Others being investigated
78 Amnesty International Report 2007

89.
CAM
for embezzlement were members of parliament whose Torture and ill-treatment
immunity was withdrawn in October. Torture by members of the security forces continued to
be reported.
Convicted for practising homosexuality b Serges Ondobo died in April, reportedly as a result
Patrick Yousse-Djaudio and another gay man were of being beaten in police custody in Yaoundé when he
reportedly sentenced in February to one year’s protested against the arrest of a fellow trader. The
imprisonment for practising homosexuality. In March, authorities are not known to have taken any action
four young women were arrested for allegedly engaging against the policemen responsible.
in lesbian activities. They were released in June after a More than 100 people were reportedly beaten in late
court in Douala sentenced them to a three-year October after they were arrested by members of the
suspended prison sentence and a fine. Rapid Intervention Brigade (Brigade d’intervention
Two minors arrested in May 2005 with nine others rapide, BIR) in and around Maroua, the capital of
accused of practising homosexuality were released in Extreme North province. The victims were detained for
February without trial. The remaining nine were tried in several days at Salack, where many of them were
June. Two were acquitted and seven were sentenced to stripped naked, blindfolded and beaten, then held in a
10 months’ imprisonment then released because of the cell with water on its floor. The victims included
time already spent in custody. One of these, Alim Hamidou Ndjidda, Aziz Dikanza and Ismael Balo Amadou.
Mongoche, died of an illness soon after his release. The trial by the Douala military tribunal of several
Twelve young women students were expelled in gendarmes and a manager implicated in the death of
March from a college on account of being lesbian. They Emmanuel Moutombi, who died in February 2005,
were not able to join any other college. ended in March. The manager was found not guilty of
involvement in torture but was fined 25,000 CFA Francs
Threats to freedom of expression (approximately US$50) for slapping Emmanuel
Several journalists were detained or assaulted because Moutombi. A gendarmerie commander was sentenced
of their work. The authorities were not known to have to 10 months’ imprisonment, while three gendarmes
taken any action against those responsible for assaults. convicted of causing the death were sentenced to eight,
b Duke Atangana Etotogo, director of L’Afrique nine and 10 years’ imprisonment. The tribunal ordered
centrale newspaper, was arrested on 3 September by the state to pay 44 million CFA Francs (approximately
members of the military security service after the US$88,000) to the victim’s family.
newspaper published an article critical of the army. He
was released without charge on 8 September. Southern Cameroons National Council
b Patient Ebwele of Radio Equinoxe was beaten and As in previous years, members of the Anglophone
detained for four hours in April by gendarmes in Akwa- separatist movement, the Southern Cameroons National
Nord district of Douala. Council (SCNC), were arrested and briefly detained.
b Eric Motomu, editor of The Chronicle newspaper, At least 40 SCNC members were arrested in January
was assaulted in April by SDF supporters in Bamenda while holding a meeting in Buea. They were released
who accused him of publishing articles critical of their without charge after several days. A further 29 were
leader, John Fru Ndi. arrested in March and detained for several days in Buea.
More than 60 SCNC members were arrested in
Ten convicted for political killing Bamenda on 24 April and released without charge on
In April, a court convicted former chief and member of 1 May. When SCNC leaders, including Humphrey Prince
parliament Doh Gah Gwanyin and nine others of Mbiglo, tried to hold a press conference on 7 May to
involvement in the death of John Kohtem, an SDF protest, they were among 20 SCNC members who were
leader beaten to death in August 2004. They were detained for several days. Fidelis Chinkwo, Emmanuel
sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment but Doh Gah Emi, Priscilla Khan, Elvis Bandzeka and Cletus Che were
Gwanyin was released on bail pending his application arrested in Bamenda on 16 September and released
to appeal. Two of the accused were acquitted. several days later without charge.
Student unrest culminates in deaths Anglophone prisoners
In April, several university student leaders in Yaoundé Anglophone prisoners serving long prison sentences
received suspended prison sentences for their role in for involvement in politically motivated violent
clashes between students and members of the security activities were transferred in May from Kondengui
forces in November 2005. prison in Yaoundé to their home provinces. Eight were
At least eight Buea university students were arrested transferred to Bamenda in Northwest province and the
in March during a demonstration in support of ninth, Roland Tatah, was transferred to Buea central
independence for Anglophone Cameroon. They were prison in Southwest province. One of the nine, Philip
released without charge after several days. Tete, died from an illness in November.
At least two Buea university students were shot dead
on 29 November by the security forces during violent AI country reports/visits
demonstrations over alleged corruption and discrimination Visit
against Anglophone students. The authorities did not The authorities did not respond to AI’s request to visit
hold any formal investigation into the killings. Cameroon.
Amnesty International Report 2007 79

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CANADA In September and December, two reports from a
public inquiry into Canada’s role in the case of Maher
Arar were released. He had been deported to Syria in
2002 where he was detained without charge for a year
CANADA and tortured. The first report cleared Maher Arar,
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by recommended compensation and proposed numerous
Governor General Michaëlle Jean reforms. In December, the government announced an
Head of government: Stephen Harper (replaced Paul inquiry into the cases of three other dual Canadian
Martin in January) nationals tortured abroad: Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes Abou El-Maati and Muyyed Nureddin.
International Criminal Court: ratified In October, the preventative and investigative
hearing provisions of the 2001 Anti-Terrorism Act were
renewed for five years.
There were concerns about violations of the rights of Canadian forces in Afghanistan transferred
Indigenous peoples, including discrimination and detainees to Afghan officials in circumstances where
violence against Indigenous women and girls. there was a serious risk of torture and ill-treatment.
Counter-terrorism laws and practices were
inconsistent with human rights standards. Refugee protection
The new government refused to implement the
The rights of Indigenous peoples provisions of the 2001 Immigration and Refugee
There was no comprehensive national strategy to Protection Act establishing a Refugee Appeal Division.
address continuing discrimination and violence against A legal challenge was lodged to the Canada/USA “safe
Indigenous women. The policies and practices of police third country” agreement. Under the agreement most
forces in response to such violence were inconsistent. refugee claimants arriving in Canada via the USA were
There was no progress in resolving the long-standing required to make their refugee claims in the USA, where
land dispute with the Lubicon Cree in Alberta, despite there were concerns that some faced human rights
calls by the UN Human Rights Committee on Canada in violations. The court hearing was expected to begin in
1990 and 2005 to make every effort to resolve the issue. February 2007.
There were concerns that the approach to child Immigration laws failed to provide an absolute ban
protection for Indigenous children was discriminatory, on deporting individuals to countries where they faced
both in the levels of funding provided and in the a serious risk of torture. In October, a Federal Court
disproportionately high levels of Indigenous children judge ruled that “exceptional circumstances” did not
taken into care. exist to justify the deportation of Mahmoud Jaballah to
Egypt, where he was at risk of being tortured.
Women’s human rights
In September there was a substantial cut in the budget
of Status of Women Canada, the federal government
agency responsible for promoting gender equality. New
restrictions barred advocacy activities by organizations
receiving funding from the agency.
There was no progress in implementing
recommendations made by a 1996 public inquiry, a 2003
Canadian Human Rights Commission report, and the UN
Human Rights Committee in 2005 that there be an
independent agency established to receive complaints
CENTRAL AFRICAN
from women prisoners held in federal detention facilities.
Police abuses
REPUBLIC
Concerns about excessive use of force involving taser
guns continued. In August, Jason Doan died in Red CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Deer, Alberta, after being subdued by police using a Head of state: François Bozizé
taser, bringing the number of such deaths to 15 since Head of government: Elie Dote
April 2003. Death penalty: abolitionist in practice
International Criminal Court: ratified
Security and human rights
Three Muslim men subject to security certificates
issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Government forces reportedly killed scores of
Act remained in detention and two others were under unarmed civilians in response to unrest in the north
strict bail conditions. The men faced a serious risk of of the country, displacing tens of thousands of
torture if deported. Appeals to the Supreme Court of people. The authorities took no action against
Canada in three of the cases were pending at the end of members of the security forces suspected of
the year. responsibility for unlawful killings and other human
80 Amnesty International Report 2007

91.
CEN
rights violations. Dozens of suspected political There was no progress by the government in bringing
opponents of the government were arrested and to justice those responsible for serious human rights
unlawfully detained in harsh conditions. About 25 abuses, including hundreds of rapes, during conflict in
were tried, most of whom were acquitted. Fourteen late 2002 and early 2003. The International Criminal
were not released after their acquittal but detained Court (ICC) continued to conduct a preliminary analysis
for a further two weeks. of crimes committed during the period, following a
referral of the situation by the government in 2005. At
Background the end of the year, the ICC had not announced whether
Violence and insecurity escalated in the north of the or not it would launch a full investigation.
country. On 29 January, an armed group attacked the
security forces in the town of Paoua, Ouham-Pende Political arrests, detentions and trials
province. At least 80 civilians, many of them unarmed, Several dozen people were arrested between February
were killed by government forces during a counter- and April 2006 and accused of supporting armed groups
attack. About 7,000 people fled to neighbouring Chad, seeking to overthrow President François Bozizé’s
while an estimated 50,000 more were internally government. Many were members of former President
displaced, with little or no access to humanitarian Ange-Félix Patassé’s Movement for the Liberation of
assistance. the Central African People (Mouvement de libération
Attacks by armed groups persisted throughout the du peuple centrafricain), or came from the same Kaba
year. In June, UN sources reported that 33 people had ethnic group.
been killed in a rebel attack on an army camp in the They were held for weeks or months without charge
north. and without access to their families, lawyers and
Government forces continued to be supported by doctors. In May and June, about 25 were charged with
French and Chadian troops, and by members of a endangering the internal security of the state and
peacekeeping force backed by the Monetary and related offences.
Economic Community of Central Africa (Communauté b Lydie Florence Ndouba, an official at the Ministry
économique et monétaire d’Afrique centrale, CEMAC). of Internal Affairs, was arrested on 28 February,
CEMAC peacekeepers received material help from the apparently because she was the sister of two prominent
European Union. politicians critical of the government. She was held
In August former President Ange-Félix Patassé and without charge until 11 May, when she was charged with
three other former politicians were tried in their absence endangering the security of the state. At her trial in
on charges of fraud and embezzling public funds. They August she told the Criminal Court that she had been ill-
were convicted of fraud and sentenced to up to 20 years’ treated in custody. She was acquitted.
imprisonment. Ange-Félix Patassé’s former economic b Pascal Ngakoutou Beninga, a teacher at Bangui
advisor, Simon Kouloumba, was acquitted and released. University, reported that he was taken to a wood and
He had been awaiting trial since 2003. threatened with death by members of the Republican
Guard on 25 March. He was accused of having provided
Impunity accommodation to armed men and of possessing
The authorities failed to take action against members of weapons. Members of the security forces searched his
the security forces who reportedly killed and injured house but reportedly found nothing incriminating.
dozens of unarmed civilians in Ouham-Pende and In August and September, about 25 detainees were
Ouham provinces in late January and February. tried by the Criminal Court in Bangui. Approximately 20
Government forces, particularly members of the were acquitted.
Republican Guard, reportedly targeted unarmed b Of 16 people tried for endangering the internal
civilians, including boys as young as 10. At least 17 security of the state and related charges, 15 were
students from Paoua college were reported to have acquitted and one convicted on a lesser charge on 12
been extrajudicially executed by members of the September. However, 14 were not released but taken
Republican Guard. from Ngaragba prison on 13 September by members of
b At least 80 people were reportedly killed by regular the Republican Guard to Bossembélé prison in
government forces in Paoua in January and February. Ombella-Mpoko province. Members of the Central
The victims included Florent Djembert, Vincent African Republic Bar Association went on strike in
Bozoukon and William Béré. Four unidentified bodies protest, and the government was widely criticized. On
were reportedly burned in the local gendarmerie 25 September, the detainees were returned to Bangui
compound. No investigation into the deaths was and released.
reported. At the end of 2006, at least 20 detainees were still
b A former member of the Republican Guard, who held, accused of having connections with armed
had allegedly killed several people but was released groups. It was unclear whether all of them had been
without charge after being arrested in 2005, continued formally charged.
to threaten human rights defenders before he was
killed by insurgents in May. In January he reportedly Detention conditions
threatened Maka Gbossokoto, director of Le Citoyen AI delegates visited several detention centres in
newspaper, Nganatouwa Goungaye Wanfiyo, a lawyer, Bangui, including Ngaragba prison, Bimbo prison and
and Adolphe Ngouyombo, a human rights activist. the National Gendarmerie’s Research and Investigation
Amnesty International Report 2007 81

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CHA
Department (Section de recherche et d’investigation, (Union des forces pour la démocratie et le
SRI). They found that conditions were so harsh as to be développement, UFDD), carried out military operations
life-threatening. throughout 2006 in the north and east of the country.
In most prisons and detention centres, detainees Armed clashes between the security forces and armed
received no food other than that brought by friends or opposition groups intensified from April onwards along
relatives. Many complained of not having enough to eat the eastern border with Sudan and the Chadian
or suffering from malnutrition. Cells were overcrowded authorities accused Sudan of backing the attackers. In
and insanitary. April, the FUC launched attacks in the east and
Detainees suffering ill-health were denied access to southeast, reaching the capital city, N’Djaména; scores
medical care. Minors were held together with adults, of soldiers and members of armed groups were
and unconvicted detainees were held with convicted reportedly killed. The FUC failed to conquer N’Djaména
prisoners. According to reports, in detention centres and dozens of its members were arrested. In October,
outside Bangui men and women were generally held several towns, including Goz Beida, were occupied for
together in even worse conditions. more than 24 hours by the UFDD. In November, the
UFDD and the RAFD attacked several towns in the east
AI country reports/visits and occupied the towns of Abéché and Guerreda for
Report more than 24 hours. In December, the FUC and the
• Central African Republic: Government tramples on Chadian authorities signed a peace deal in Libya. Under
the basic rights of detainees (AI Index: AFR the provision of the accord, the FUC forces would be
19/007/2006) integrated into the Chadian army.
Visit In order to combat the armed groups, the Chadian
AI delegates visited the Central African Republic in authorities withdrew government troops from the
May. eastern border with Sudan, leaving civilians to face
larger and more prolonged attacks by the Janjawid.
In January, the National Assembly passed a law
extending its own term in office by over a year.
Legislative elections which should have taken place in
2006 were postponed until 2007. Despite calls from the
African Union and national human rights organizations
to postpone the presidential elections, President Idriss
Déby was elected in May to serve a third five-year term
CHAD in a poll boycotted by opposition parties.
In November, the government declared a state of
emergency in some regions including Chari Baguirmi,
Borkou Ennedi Tibesti and N’Djaména. It created a
REPUBLIC OF CHAD committee to censor all public and private newspapers
Head of state: Idriss Déby and radio stations, in order to prevent the publication
Head of government: Pascal Yaodimnadji or broadcast of information liable to jeopardize public
Death penalty: retentionist order, national unity, territorial integrity or respect for
International Criminal Court: ratified the republic’s institutions.
Also in November, Chad ratified the Rome Statute of
the International Criminal Court.
Clashes between the security forces and armed
opposition groups intensified from April onwards. Unlawful killings
The Janjawid, an armed Sudanese militia group, The conflict in Sudan spilled over into Chad. The
crossed the border into eastern Chad, attacking Janjawid extended its activities into eastern Chad,
villages, killing civilians and forcibly displacing tens mainly in the Dar Sila department, and attacked a
of thousands. Women suffered grave human rights diverse range of ethnic groups identified as “African”
abuses, including rape, during these attacks. At least rather than Arab. Members of communities such as
two people were extrajudicially executed by the the Dajo, Mobeh and Masalit left the border area as a
security forces, one of whom was tortured before result of Janjawid incursions. Hundreds of people,
being killed. Human rights defenders and journalists particularly members of the Dajo ethnic group, were
continued to be at risk of detention, unfair trial and killed by the Janjawid throughout 2006, and more
imprisonment. than 80,000 people were forcibly displaced. Many
remained in Chad as internally displaced persons, but
Background at least 15,000, cut off from a safer escape route, fled
President Idriss Déby’s administration continued to be into Darfur, despite the continuing conflict and
threatened by armed conflict. Armed groups, including disruption there. The refugees who fled into Darfur
the United Front for Change (Front uni pour le had virtually no access to humanitarian assistance.
changement, FUC), the Rally of Democratic Forces The internally displaced within Chad congregated in
(Rassemblement des forces démocratiques, RAFD) and informal camps where they often remained at risk of
the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development further attacks.
82 Amnesty International Report 2007

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Janjawid attacks on communities in eastern Chad, year. The reasons for their arrest remained unclear, and
which began in 2003, initially consisted of frequent, no charges were brought against them. The authorities
small-scale raids aimed primarily at stealing cattle, refused to grant the detainees access to their families
which were generally kept at some distance from the and lawyers and would not reveal where or on what
villages. People guarding the cattle were often killed if grounds they were held.
they resisted the better-armed Janjawid, but the villages
themselves were not attacked. However, as these Extrajudicial executions
incursions became more frequent, the Janjawid began to At least two people were extrajudicially executed by
attack, burn and loot villages, sometimes repeatedly the security forces.
over a period of several days or months, until most of the b In May, soldiers in three separate vehicles arrived
inhabitants had been killed or forced to flee. in Guité and arrested several people. One person was
b In March, the Janjawid launched a large-scale asked to produce his identity card and told to lie down
attack near N’Djaména village, a few kilometres from on the ground. Soldiers stamped on him, then one
Modaina, in which 72 people were killed. soldier shot him dead at close range.
b In October, the Janjawid used incendiary weapons b In April, Commander Idriss Mahamat Idriss was
during attacks on Djimeze Djarma village. Seventeen arrested while riding in a military vehicle. His body,
people, including Adam Oumar, Ahmed Haroon and a showing signs of gunshot wounds, was found in the
90-year-old woman, Hawa Rashadiya, were killed. morgue a few days later.
b In November, the village of Djorlo was attacked on
three sides simultaneously. The Janjawid fired on the Human rights defenders
outskirts of the village before advancing. Forty people Human rights defenders and journalists continued to
including Yahyah Omar, aged 75, and Sabil Awat, aged be at risk of detention, unfair trial and imprisonment in
60, were killed. In addition, three babies who were still violation of their right to freedom of expression. Two
breastfeeding, including Adam Haroon, were burned human rights defenders were illegally detained and
alive in their homes and one old crippled man, unable threatened.
to flee, was also burned alive. Following the decision to censor the press, the
b The village of Koloy was attacked several times Association of Privately Owned Press Editors
between September and November. During these suspended the publication of five affiliated
attacks, more than 100 people were killed, including newspapers: N’Djaména Bi-hebdo, Notre Temps, le
Adam Abdelkerim, Ibrahim Said, Mahamat Abakar and Temps, Sarh Tribune and le Messager.
an 85-year-old woman, Hawa Issa. b In April, René Dillah Yombirin, a public radio
journalist and French service correspondent for the
Violence against women BBC, was attacked by several soldiers while he was
The widespread insecurity in eastern Chad had interviewing residents in the Moursal area shortly after
particularly severe consequences for women, who the attack on N’Djaména. He was taken to an unknown
suffered grave human rights abuses, including rape, destination before being released a few hours later.
during attacks on villages. Sexual violence often b In April, Mingar Monodji, a member of the Chadian
continued after the women were displaced. Women Human Rights League, was arrested and detained by
also suffered extreme hardship associated with soldiers for three days in an unknown location. At the
displacement and the deaths of their male relatives. end of the third day, they abandoned him by the side of
b In October, seven women were abducted in a road. During his detention, Mingar Monodji was
Djimeze Djarma and held for 20 days by their attackers. beaten regularly by soldiers who accused him and other
They were beaten with whips and sticks throughout this human rights activists of being mercenaries opposed to
period. The women did not identify their attackers as President Déby.
members of the Janjawid. b In May, Tchanguiz Vathankha, director of Radio
b During an attack on the village of Djorlo in Brakoss, a community radio station, and president of the
November, the Janjawid raped seven women who had Chad Union of Privately Owned Radio Stations, was
taken refuge in a mosque. According to an eye-witness, arrested and held without charge for eight days. He was
the women were captured and beaten, then thrown to arrested after his organization issued a statement calling
the ground. The attackers pinned the women to the for the postponement of the May presidential election.
ground, tore off their clothes and raped them. b In October, Evariste Ngaralbaye, a journalist for
the privately owned weekly, Notre Temps, was
Detention without trial arrested and detained for four days. He was charged
In May, at least 10 people were arrested in Guité on the with defamation and damage to the reputation and
suspicion of links with armed groups. Two were morale of the gendarmerie. Shortly before his arrest,
released without charge after two days and the others he had published a critical article on the conflict in
after 15 days. eastern Chad.
Dozens of military officers and soldiers, including
Adil Ousmane and Colonel Abakar Gawi, were arrested Chad-Cameroon pipeline
in April shortly after an attack by an armed group on In April, Chad threatened to shut down the Chad-
N’Djaména. Some were released, but seven high- Cameroon pipeline if the World Bank refused to release
ranking officers remained in detention at the end of the assets frozen in January after the Chadian government
Amnesty International Report 2007 83

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CHI
amended the Revenue Management Law governing the legal and judicial steps necessary to secure truth and
proceeds of the pipeline project. The government justice for past human rights violations.
sought to divert pipeline revenues, originally reserved In May, the Chilean Supreme Court released former
for health and education spending and poverty Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori on bail pending a
reduction, to fighting the armed rebellion against decision on whether to extradite him to Peru where he
President Déby. An interim accord was reached in April, was accused of corruption and human rights violations.
and in July relations were fully normalized after a By the end of the year, no decision had been reached
memorandum of understanding was signed between and he remained in Chile under an arraignment order
the Chadian government and the World Bank. which prevented him from leaving the country.
In August, following a tax dispute, the activities of US In December, Augusto Pinochet, who governed Chile
and Malaysian companies sponsoring the pipeline were between 1973 and 1990 following a coup, died in
suspended. They resumed in October, following an Santiago. Under his government gross human rights
accord reached with the Chadian government. violations considered crimes against humanity were
committed. At the time of his death he was facing
AI country reports/visits charges in Chilean courts in relation to a financial
Reports inquiry (the Riggs case) and four human rights cases –
• Chad/Sudan: Thousands displaced by attacks from the Prats case, Villa Grimaldi, Operation Colombo and
Sudan (AI Index: AFR 20/005/2006) the Caravan of Death – in which thousands of people
• Chad: “We don’t want to die before Hissène Habré is were subjected to torture, extrajudicial executions and
brought to trial” (AI Index: AFR 20/002/2006) enforced disappearance. He never attended any
• Chad: Testimonies from eastern Chad (AI Index: AFR judicial hearings in any Chilean court.
20/007/2006)
• Chad: Des militaires détenus depuis plus de cinq mois Indigenous people
(AI Index: AFR 20/010/2006) There were reports of ill-treatment of members of the
• Chad: Civilians left unprotected as brutal Janjawid Mapuche Indigenous group. In May, a number of
attacks reach 150 kilometres inside Chad (AI Index: Mapuche detainees staged hunger strikes in protest at
AFR 20/013/2006) the unfair application of anti-terrorist laws.
Visits b In July, uniformed police officers (carabineros)
AI delegates visited Chad in May/June and in raided the Indigenous Mapuche community of
November/December to carry out research and hold Temucuicui in Ercilla, Malleco Province. The police
talks with the authorities. claimed that they were searching for stolen animals,
but the community denied that stolen animals were
being held on community land. Police reportedly fired
tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition at
members of the community, who were unarmed.
Several people were injured and a number of homes
destroyed. Children were affected by the tear gas and
CHILE several escaped to nearby hills. Women and children
were ill-treated. The community had been subjected to
similar police actions earlier in the year. At the end of
the year, no investigation was known to have been
REPUBLIC OF CHILE initiated into the July raid.
Head of state and government: Michelle Bachelet b In December, police reportedly fired on
(replaced Ricardo Lagos in March) Temucuicui Mapuche individuals who were collecting
Death penalty: abolitionist for ordinary crimes their salaries in the city of Ercilla, IX Region. Up to six
International Criminal Court: signed civilians were believed to have been injured, including
a number of children.
Mapuche Indigenous people were harassed and ill- Demonstrations
treated by the police. Student demonstrations were Secondary-school students demonstrated and went on
dispersed by the security forces, allegedly with strike in May, June and October to demand a complete
excessive use of force. Harsh prison conditions and overhaul of the education system and the end of
ill-treatment of detainees were reported. A resolution disparities between public and private schools. There
by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights were clashes with the police and hundreds of people
highlighted the need to annul the Amnesty Law. were briefly detained. There were reports of excessive
use of force by police against student demonstrators
Background and journalists.
In January Michelle Bachelet became the first woman
president of Chile. She took office in March pledging to Prison conditions
advance social equality and the promotion and There were reports of harsh conditions, overcrowding,
protection of fundamental rights, to promote a lack of medical attention, ill-treatment and corruption
National Programme of Human Rights and to take the by prison guards. The case of 80 detainees in Santiago
84 Amnesty International Report 2007

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Prison who were forced to sleep in the open was co-operation with the UN on human rights. Chinese
considered by the Santiago Appeals Court in June. A companies continued to export arms to countries
protection request was submitted on behalf of these where they were likely to be used for serious human
men by lawyers working for the Paternitas Foundation, rights abuses, including Sudan and Myanmar.
a non-governmental organization.
Human rights defenders
Amnesty Law The government crackdown on lawyers and housing
In September the Inter-American Court of Human rights activists intensified. Many human rights
Rights ruled that the application of the amnesty defenders were subjected to lengthy periods of
provisions of the 1978 Amnesty Law were not arbitrary detention without charge, as well as
admissible and such provisions could not be applied to harassment by the police or by local gangs apparently
crimes against humanity. The judgment related to the condoned by the police. Many lived under near
case of Luis Alfredo Almonacid Arellano who was constant surveillance or house arrest and members of
arrested and shot by police in September 1973. By the their families were increasingly targeted. New
end of the year President Bachelet had made no regulations restricted the ability of lawyers to
decision on whether the Amnesty Law should be represent groups of victims and to participate in
annulled, repealed or amended by new legislation collective petitions.
which would limit its application. b Gao Zhisheng, an outspoken human rights lawyer,
had his law practice suspended in November 2005. He
AI country reports/visits was detained in August 2006 and remained in
Reports incommunicado detention at an unknown location
• Peru/Chile: 20,000 signatures collected as a result of until his trial in December 2006. In October he was
the international campaign on the Fujimori case formally arrested on charges of “inciting subversion”,
(AI Index: AMR 46/008/2006) and in December he was sentenced to three years’
• Chile: Medical Concern (AI Index: AMR 22/002/2006) imprisonment, suspended for five years.
• Chile: Death of Pinochet is not the end of the story
(AI Index: AMR 22/004/2006) Journalists and Internet users
The government’s crackdown on journalists, writers,
and Internet users intensified. Numerous popular
newspapers and journals were shut down. Hundreds of
international websites remained blocked and
thousands of Chinese websites were shut down. Dozens
of journalists were detained for reporting on sensitive
issues.
CHINA The government strengthened systems for blocking,
filtering, and monitoring the flow of information. New
regulations came into effect requiring foreign news
agencies to gain approval from China’s official news
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA agency in order to publish any news. Many foreign
Head of state: Hu Jintao journalists were detained for short periods.
Head of government: Wen Jiabao
Death penalty: retentionist Discrimination against rural migrants
International Criminal Court: not ratified Rural migrant workers in China’s cities faced wide-
ranging discrimination. Despite official commitment to
resolve the problem, millions of migrant workers were
An increased number of lawyers and journalists were still owed back pay. The vast majority were excluded
harassed, detained, and jailed. Thousands of people from urban health insurance schemes and could not
who pursued their faith outside officially sanctioned afford private health care. Access to public education
churches were subjected to harassment and many to remained tenuous for millions of migrant children, in
detention and imprisonment. Thousands of people contrast to other urban residents. An estimated
were sentenced to death or executed. Migrants from 20 million migrant children were unable to live with
rural areas were deprived of basic rights. Severe their parents in the cities in part because of insecure
repression of Uighurs in the Xinjiang Uighur schooling.
Autonomous Region continued, and freedom of b Beijing municipal authorities closed dozens of
expression and religion continued to be severely migrant schools in September, affecting thousands of
restricted in Tibet and among Tibetans elsewhere. migrant children. While authorities claimed to have
targeted unregistered and sub-standard schools,
International community onerous demands made it nearly impossible for
Before China’s election to the new UN Human Rights migrant schools to be registered. Some school staff
Council, it made a number of human rights-related believed the closures were aimed at reducing the
pledges, including ratification of the International migrant population in Beijing ahead of the 2008
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and active Olympics.
Amnesty International Report 2007 85

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Violence and discrimination against women believed this would lead to a reduction in miscarriages
Violence and discrimination against women remained of justice and use of the death penalty.
severe. The disadvantaged economic and social status Executions by lethal injection rose, facilitating the
of women and girls was evident in employment, health extraction of organs from executed prisoners, a
care and education. Women were laid off in larger lucrative business. In November a deputy minister
numbers than men from failing state enterprises. announced that the majority of transplanted organs
Women accounted for 60 per cent of rural labourers came from executed prisoners. In July new regulations
and had fewer non-agricultural opportunities than banned the buying and selling of organs and required
men. The absence of gender-sensitive anti-HIV/AIDS written consent from donors for organ removal.
policies contributed to a significant rise in female b Xu Shuangfu, the leader of an unofficial Protestant
HIV/AIDS cases in 2006. Only 43 per cent of girls in rural group called “Three Grades of Servants”, was executed
areas completed education above lower middle school, along with 11 others in November after being convicted
compared with 61 per cent of boys. of murdering 20 members of another group, “Eastern
Despite strengthened laws and government efforts Lightning”, in 2003-4. Xu Shuangfu reportedly claimed
to combat human trafficking, it remained pervasive, that he had confessed under torture during police
with an estimated 90 per cent of cases being women interrogation and that the torture had included
and children trafficked for sexual exploitation. beatings with heavy chains and sticks, electric shocks
b Chen Guangcheng, a blind, self-trained lawyer, to the toes, fingers and genitals and forced injection of
was sentenced in August to a prison term of four hot pepper, gasoline and ginger into the nose. Both the
years and three months on charges of “damaging first instance and appeal courts reportedly refused to
public property and gathering people to stop traffic”. allow his lawyers to introduce these allegations as
He had been arbitrarily confined to his home since evidence in his defence.
September 2005 in connection with his advocacy on
behalf of women undergoing forced abortions in Torture, arbitrary detention and unfair trials
Shandong Province. On appeal, the guilty verdict was Torture and ill-treatment remained widespread.
overturned and the case sent back to the lower court Common methods included kicking, beating, electric
for retrial, but the lower court upheld the original shocks, suspension by the arms, shackling in painful
sentence. positions, cigarette burns, and sleep and food
deprivation. In November a senior official admitted
Repression of spiritual and religious groups that at least 30 wrongful convictions handed down
The government continued to crack down on each year resulted from the use of torture, with the
religious observance outside officially sanctioned true number likely being higher. There was no
channels. Thousands of members of underground progress in efforts to reform the Re-education
protestant “house churches” and unofficial Catholic through Labour system of administrative detention
churches were detained, many of whom were ill- without charge or trial. Hundreds of thousands of
treated or tortured in detention. Members of the people were believed to be held in Re-education
Falun Gong spiritual movement were detained and through Labour facilities across China and were at risk
assigned to administrative detention for their of torture and ill-treatment. In May 2006, the Beijing
beliefs, and continued to be at high risk of torture city authorities announced their intention to extend
or ill-treatment. their use of Re-education through Labour as a way to
b Bu Dongwei, a Falun Gong practitioner, was control “offending behaviour” and to clean up the
assigned to two and a half years’ Re-education through city’s image ahead of the Olympics.
Labour in June for “activities relating to a banned b Ye Guozhu was sentenced to four years’
organization” after police discovered Falun Gong imprisonment in 2004 for his opposition to forced
literature at his home. He had been working for a US aid evictions in Beijing associated with construction for the
organization when he was detained. Olympic games. It emerged during 2006 that Ye had
b Pastor Zhang Rongliang, an underground church been tortured while in detention. He was reportedly
leader who had been repeatedly detained and imprisoned suspended from the ceiling by the arms and beaten
since 1976, was sentenced in June to seven and a half repeatedly by police in Dongcheng district detention
years’ imprisonment on charges of illegally crossing the centre, Beijing, and also reportedly tortured in another
border and fraudulently obtaining a passport. prison in the second half of 2005.
Death penalty Uighurs in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous
The death penalty continued to be used extensively to Region
punish around 68 crimes, including economic and non- Government authorities in Xinjiang continued to
violent crimes. Based on public reports, AI estimated severely repress the Uighur community and to deny
that at least 1,010 people were executed and 2,790 their human rights, including freedom of religion and
sentenced to death during 2006, although the true access to education. An increased number of Uighurs
figures were believed to be much higher. were extradited to China from Central Asia, reflecting
The National People’s Congress passed a law growing pressure by China on governments in the
reinstating a final review of all death penalty cases by region. Seventeen Uighurs remained in detention in
the Supreme People’s Court from 2007. Commentators Guantánamo Bay.
86 Amnesty International Report 2007

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b The family of exiled former prisoner of conscience The UN Human Rights Committee and the UN
Rebiya Kadeer continued to be targeted by the Chinese Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
authorities. On 26 November her son Ablikim Women reviewed the human rights situation in Hong
Abdiriyim, detained in Xinjiang awaiting trial on Kong in March and August respectively. Both made
charges of “subversion” and tax evasion, was seen several recommendations for reform.
being carried out of Tianshan District Detention In September, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal upheld
Centre, apparently in need of medical attention. On a lower court ruling that laws providing a higher age of
27 November her sons Alim and Kahar Abdiriyim were consent for sexual relations for gay men than for
fined heavily and Alim sentenced to seven years’ heterosexuals were discriminatory. The authorities
imprisonment on charges of tax evasion. announced that they would not appeal the case further.
b Husein Celil, a Canadian citizen who fled China in Asylum-seekers continued to be refused entry
the 1990s as a refugee, was arrested in Uzbekistan and without adequate consideration of their claims. Others
extradited to China in June. He was reportedly accused were detained for over-staying their visas or other
of “terrorism” and denied access to family or consular immigration offences. Despite lobbying from human
representatives. rights and social welfare groups, the authorities
confirmed that there were no plans to extend the UN
Tibetans Refugee Convention to Hong Kong. The authorities
Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region and other began to offer limited welfare assistance to asylum-
areas experienced severe restrictions on their rights to seekers after UNHCR ceased its funding in May, but this
freedom of religious belief, expression and association, was reportedly insufficient to meet basic needs.
and discrimination in employment. Many were
detained or imprisoned for observing their religion or AI country reports/visits
expressing opinions, including Tibetan Buddhist monks Reports
and nuns. Excessive use of force against Tibetans • People’s Republic of China: Abolishing “Re-education
seeking to flee repression in Tibet continued. In through Labour” and other forms of administrative
September witnesses saw Chinese border patrol guards detention – An opportunity to bring the law into line
shooting at a group of Tibetans attempting to reach with the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Nepal. At least one child was confirmed killed. Rights (AI Index: ASA 17/016/2006)
b Woeser, a leading Tibetan intellectual, had her • People’s Republic of China: Sustaining conflict and
weblog shut down several times after she raised human rights abuses – The flow of arms accelerates
questions about China’s role in Tibet. (AI Index: ASA 17/030/2006)
b Sonam Gyalpo, a former monk, was sentenced to • People’s Republic of China: The Olympics count-
12 years’ imprisonment in mid-2006 for “endangering down – failing to keep human rights promises
state security” after the authorities found videos of the (AI Index: ASA 17/046/2006)
Dalai Lama and other “incriminating materials” in his • Undermining freedom of expression in China: the
house. His family learned of his trial and sentencing role of Yahoo!, Microsoft and Google (AI Index: POL
when they tried to visit him in detention. 30/026/2006)
Visits
North Korean refugees AI representatives attended several human rights-
Approximately 100,000 North Koreans were reportedly related meetings in Beijing and Shenzhen.
hiding in China. The authorities arrested and deported
an estimated 150-300 each week without ever referring
cases to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. They also
reportedly implemented a system of rewards for
turning in North Koreans and heavy fines for
supporting them. In September a new crackdown was
reported on North Koreans residing illegally in China.
Abuse of North Korean women in China was widely
reported, including cases of systematic rape and
prostitution. North Korean women were reportedly
sold as brides to Chinese men for between US$880 and
US$1,890. Some women knew they were being sold into
marriage but did not know how harsh conditions in
China would be. Others were lured across the border by
marriage brokers posing as merchants.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
All 14 South Koreans charged with “unlawful assembly”
after protesting outside World Trade Organization
meetings in December 2005 were acquitted in early 2006,
sparking renewed calls for an independent inquiry into
the actions of the police during the protests.
Amnesty International Report 2007 87

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COL
COLOMBIA commit human rights violations with the acquiescence
of or in collusion with the security forces. In November,
three legislators were arrested for their alleged links to
paramilitaries. Several other legislators and political
REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA figures were also reportedly under investigation by the
Head of state and government: Álvaro Uribe Vélez Supreme Court of Justice at the end of the year.
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
International Criminal Court: ratified Abuses by paramilitary groups continue
despite supposed demobilization
The Organization of American States Mission to Support
Serious human rights abuses remained at high levels, the Peace Process in Colombia published a report in
especially in rural areas, despite continued reductions August. This stated that some demobilized
in certain types of violence associated with paramilitaries had regrouped as criminal gangs, that
Colombia’s long-running internal armed conflict, in others had failed to demobilize, and that new
particular kidnappings and killings. All parties to the paramilitary groups had emerged. Paramilitaries
conflict — the security forces and army-backed continued to commit human rights violations in areas
paramilitaries as well as guerrilla groups, mainly the where they had supposedly demobilized. More than
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas 3,000 killings and enforced disappearances of civilians
Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) and were attributed to paramilitary groups since they
the smaller National Liberation Army (Ejército de declared a “ceasefire” in 2002.
Liberación Nacional, ELN) — continued to abuse b On 11 February, demobilized paramilitaries
human rights and breach international humanitarian belonging to the Bloque Noroccidente allegedly killed
law. They were responsible for war crimes and crimes six peasant farmers in Sabanalarga Municipality,
against humanity. There was a fall in the number of Antioquia Department.
people newly displaced by the conflict, but the large
number of displaced people remained a concern. Application of the Justice and Peace Law
There were further attacks on trade unionists and In September the government promulgated Decree 3391
human rights defenders, mainly by paramilitary which revived some of the more controversial elements
groups. Extrajudicial executions by members of the of the Justice and Peace Law.
security forces, and selective killings of civilians and Of particular concern was the inclusion of “rural
kidnappings by guerrilla forces continued to be reinsertion” programmes by which the government will
reported. finance agro-industrial projects which bring together
peasant farmers, displaced people and demobilized
Background paramilitaries. This could result in peasant and
President Álvaro Uribe Vélez won a second term of displaced communities working alongside those who
office in elections held in May. Congressional elections forced them off their lands and committed human
were held in March, with President Uribe’s allies rights violations against them and lead to the
winning a majority of seats in both houses. legalization of ownership of lands taken by
Speculation that the government and the FARC were paramilitaries by force. Decree 3391 also failed to adopt
about to agree an exchange of FARC prisoners for measures that would identify and bring to justice third
hostages held by the guerrilla group were dashed after parties, including members of the security forces and
President Uribe blamed the FARC for detonating an politicians, who have supported paramilitary groups,
explosive device on 19 October inside the Nueva both logistically and financially.
Granada Military University in Bogotá; at least 20 The Justice and Peace Law, which still failed to meet
people were injured in the blast. The ELN and international standards on truth, justice and
government representatives held a fourth round of reparation, was to be applied only to around 2,600 of
preliminary peace talks in October in Cuba. the more than 30,000 paramilitaries who had
By the end of the year, the government reported that reportedly demobilized. The vast majority of
more than 30,000 paramilitaries had laid down their paramilitaries had benefited from de facto amnesties
arms in a controversial government-sponsored under Decree 128 of 2003. On 6 December, the
demobilization process. In July, the Constitutional Court paramilitaries announced they were withdrawing from
ruled that key parts of the Justice and Peace Law – the “peace process”. This followed the government’s
designed to regulate the demobilization process and decision, taken on 1 December, to transfer 59
criticized by human rights organizations – were supposedly demobilized paramilitary leaders from low-
unconstitutional. In September, the government issued security accommodation in a former holiday camp in La
a decree to implement the Justice and Peace Law. Ceja, Antioquia Department, to the high-security prison
Although it had been amended in the light of some of the of Itagüí in the same Department. The government
criticisms levelled by the Court, concerns remained that claimed that the paramilitaries had ordered several
the Law would exacerbate impunity and deny victims killings from La Ceja. On 19 December, Salvatore
their right to truth, justice and reparation. Despite the Mancuso became the first high-ranking leader of the
supposed demobilization, there was strong evidence paramilitaries to testify before the Office of the
that paramilitary groups continued to operate and to Attorney General’s Justice and Peace Unit. The Unit was
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set up under the Justice and Peace Law to investigate conditions. There were also concerns regarding the lack
human rights abuses committed by those wishing to of positive identification of remains and appropriate
qualify for the procedural benefits granted by the Law. forensic analysis of the evidence. Paramilitaries had
reportedly removed remains from some mass graves.
Collusion between paramilitaries and
state officials Impunity
Scandals involving links between paramilitaries and Impunity remained a serious problem, and the military
high-ranking members of state institutions threatened justice system continued to deal with human rights
to further undermine confidence in the rule of law. cases involving military personnel despite the 1997
b In November, the Office of the Procurator General ruling of the Constitutional Court that such cases must
accused the former director of the Civilian Intelligence be investigated by the civilian justice system.
Department (Departamento de Administración de However, some cases were transferred to the civilian
Seguridad, DAS) of having links with paramilitary justice system. Among them was the killing by soldiers
groups. The allegations stemmed from claims, of 10 members of the judicial police (the DIJIN),
published in the media in April by another DAS official, together with a police informer and a civilian, in
that the DAS had provided a list of 24 trade union Jamundí, Valle del Cauca Department, on 22 May. The
leaders to the paramilitary group Bloque Norte. Several Office of the Attorney General charged 15 members of
individuals named on the list were killed, others were the army for their alleged role in the killings, which
threatened, while some were reportedly the subject of were reported to have been carried out at the behest
arbitrary judicial proceedings. of drug traffickers with links to paramilitary groups.
b On 9 November, the Supreme Court of Justice Judicial investigators involved in the case were
ordered the arrest of three congressmen from Sucre reportedly threatened.
Department, Álvaro García Romero, Jairo Merlano and The Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued
Erik Morris Taboada, for their alleged links to rulings on emblematic cases of impunity involving
paramilitary groups and, in the case of Álvaro García massacres carried out by paramilitary groups allegedly
Romero, for allegedly ordering the massacre by with the collusion or acquiescence of the security
paramilitaries of some 15 peasant farmers in Macayepo, forces. These included the Pueblo Bello massacre of
Bolívar Department in 2000. Later in the month the 1990 in which 43 civilians were killed or forcibly
Supreme Court ordered that a further six congressmen disappeared, and the La Granja and El Aro massacres of
answer charges over their alleged links to paramilitary 1996 and 1997, in which 19 people were killed. In both
groups. cases, the Court held the Colombian state partly
Press reports in November suggested that the Office responsible and ordered it to make reparations to the
of the Attorney General was reviewing more than 100 victims and their families.
cases of alleged collusion between paramilitaries and
state officials, including political figures, members of The security forces
the public and judicial administration, and the security There were continued allegations of extrajudicial
forces. In November, the Office of the Procurator executions carried out by the security forces.
General also announced the creation of a special unit b On 19 September, army soldiers reportedly killed
to investigate alleged links between public employees community and labour activist Alejandro Uribe Chacón
and paramilitaries. in Morales Municipality, Bolívar Department.
Paramilitary groups continued to commit human b On 14 April, peasant farmer Adrián Cárdenas Marín
rights violations in collusion with, or with the was reportedly detained by army troops in Argelia
acquiescence of, members of the security forces. Municipality, Antioquia Department. On 15 April, the
b On 4 February, community leader Alirio Sepúlveda army reported that Adrián Cárdenas had been killed in
Jaimes was killed close to a police station in Saravena combat a short distance from the town of Argelia.
Municipality, Arauca Department. The gunman, thought A number of human rights cases involving the army
to be a paramilitary, was reportedly linked to the local received national media coverage.
army battalion. Alirio Sepúlveda was one of around 40 b On 25 January, 21 soldiers were reportedly tortured,
social and human rights activists detained by the including sexually, by their superiors in an initiation
authorities in Saravena in 2002. ceremony at a military training facility in Piedras,
Tolima Department. The case was being investigated by
Exhumations of mass graves the civilian justice system at the end of the year.
More than 80 mass graves were found containing the b The Office of the Procurator General began an
remains of some 200 people killed by paramilitary investigation into the alleged role of army personnel in
groups over the course of the conflict. The Justice and a number of bomb plots in Bogotá in July and August,
Peace Unit claimed the remains of some 3,000 victims of including a car bomb which killed one civilian and
enforced disappearance were still to be located, injured 19 soldiers on 31 July and which the authorities
although this was thought to be a substantial had attributed to the FARC.
underestimate. Concerns were raised that some of the The security forces, including the Mobile Anti-Riot
exhumations may have been undertaken in a manner Squad (Escuadrón Móvil Anti-Disturbios, ESMAD), were
which jeopardized forensic evidence and that remains in alleged to have used excessive force during mass
official custody were being stored in precarious demonstrations by peasant farmers and Afro-descendant
Amnesty International Report 2007 89

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and Indigenous protesters on 15 and 16 May in Cauca and Municipality, Santander Department. He had been
Nariño Departments. At least one demonstrator died and missing since 30 December 2005. His body reportedly
50 were injured, including several members of the showed signs of torture. The killing was attributed
security forces and a 12-year-old child. to the paramilitary Bloque Central Bolívar (BCB). On
b On 8 March, ESMAD agents reportedly injured 31 August, the BCB allegedly sent a written death threat
several students at the National University in Bogotá to the CUT trade union confederation (Central Unitaria
when they dispersed a student demonstration. During de Trabajadores) in Bucaramanga, Santander
the demonstration students threw stones at police. Department, despite the fact that the BCB had
One student, Oscar Leonardo Salas, reportedly died on supposedly demobilized by 1 March.
9 March after sustaining head injuries from a projectile
allegedly fired by the ESMAD. Civilian communities at risk
Afro-descendant, Indigenous and peasant farmer
Guerrilla groups communities, as well as civilians living in areas of
The FARC and ELN continued to commit serious and intense military conflict, continued to be at particular
repeated breaches of international humanitarian law, risk of attack by all parties to the conflict. More than
including hostage-taking and the killing of civilians. 770 civilians were killed or forcibly disappeared during
b On 9 October, the bodies were found of four the first half of the year. More than 219,000 people were
peasant farmers who had been kidnapped by the ELN in forcibly displaced in 2006, compared with 310,000 in
Fortul Municipality, Arauca Department. Between 2005. More than 45 members of Indigenous
March and August, the FARC and ELN allegedly killed communities were killed in the first half of 2006.
more than 20 civilians in Arauca Department. b On 9 August, unknown gunmen killed five members
b On 27 February, FARC guerrillas allegedly killed eight of the A’wa Indigenous community in Barbacoas
municipal councillors in Rivera Municipality, Huila Municipality, Nariño Department.
Department, while they were attending a council meeting. b On 5 and 6 March, the FARC allegedly killed Juan
b On 25 February, the FARC allegedly attacked a bus Ramírez Villamizar, the former Indigenous governor of
in Caquetá Department in which at least nine civilians the resguardo (reservation) of Makaguán de Caño
were killed, including two children. Claro, Arauca Department, and his wife Luz Miriam
The FARC also allegedly carried out disproportionate Farías, a schoolteacher in the resguardo’s school.
and indiscriminate attacks which resulted in the deaths Members of “peace communities” and “humanitarian
of numerous civilians. zones”, and of other communities which continued to
b On 6 March, an attack using explosive devices publicly assert their right not to be drawn into the
killed three civilians, including a 76-year-old woman conflict, were threatened and killed.
and an eight-year-old boy in San Vicente del Caguán b On 16 August, paramilitaries reportedly
Municipality, Caquetá Department. The government approached inhabitants of the Curvaradó River Basin
attributed the attack to the FARC. area of Chocó Department, and informed them that
The FARC and ELN continued to forcibly recruit paramilitaries were planning to kill Enrique Petro, a
minors and landmines placed by guerrilla groups member of the Afro-descendant Curvaradó
continued to kill and maim civilians. Humanitarian Zone. In March, members of the armed
b On 2 August, landmines, allegedly placed by the forces had reportedly accused Enrique Petro of being
FARC, killed six civilians working on a government coca linked with guerrillas. The paramilitaries also stated
eradication programme and five police officers, in La that they were preparing to kill other members of the
Macarena Municipality, Meta Department. Curvaradó Humanitarian Zone.
b The body of Nelly Johana Durango, a member of the
Trade unionists, human rights defenders Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Antioquia
and other activists Department, was identified on 15 March by a family
Human rights, social and community activists continued member in Tierra Alta, Córdoba Department. Witnesses
to be targeted, mainly by paramilitary groups and the claimed that she had been taken from her home by the
security forces, but also by guerrilla groups. More than army on 4 March. The army claimed she was a guerrilla
70 trade union members were killed in 2006. killed in combat. More than 160 peace community
b In September, the FARC allegedly tortured and members have been killed since 1997, mostly by
killed Fabián Trellez Moreno, a community leader and paramilitary groups and the security forces, but also by
legal representative of the Boca de Bebará Local guerrilla groups.
Community Council in Medio Atrato Municipality,
Chocó Department. Kidnappings
b In May, in the run-up to the presidential elections, Kidnappings continued to fall, from 800 in 2005 to 687
trade unionists, left-wing party activists, human rights in 2006. Guerrilla groups, mainly the FARC, were
and peace non-governmental organizations (NGOs) responsible for most conflict-related kidnappings,
and university students and staff received e-mail death accounting for some 200 kidnappings. Ten were
threats, reportedly from groups claiming to be new attributed to paramilitary groups and 267 to common
paramilitary structures. criminals. About 200 kidnappings could not be attributed.
b On 2 January, the body of trade unionist Carlos b On 26 June in Antioquia Department, the FARC
Arciniegas Niño was discovered in Puerto Wilches allegedly kidnapped Camilo Mejía Restrepo, his wife
90 Amnesty International Report 2007

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Rosario Restrepo, their son and a nephew. In their efforts months. The latest report on Colombia of the UNHCHR,
to flee from the authorities, the kidnappers were alleged published in January, urged the government to
to have killed Camilo Mejía and injured the nephew. implement UN human rights recommendations and to
b On 7 June, the ELN allegedly kidnapped Javier adopt the long-promised national human rights action
Francisco Castro in Yondó Municipality, Antioquia plan and increase protection for human rights
Department. The ELN reportedly accused him of having defenders. It called on the parties to the conflict to
links with the security forces. No information was respect the right to life and to refrain from
received by the end of the year as to whether he had indiscriminate attacks, kidnappings, recruitment of
been released. child soldiers, and sexual violence. The report also
b On 27 April, armed men killed Liliana Gaviria recommended that legislation on the demobilization of
Trujillo, sister of former President César Gaviria Trujillo, members of illegal armed groups be made consistent
and her bodyguard, Fernando Vélez Rengifo, in with human rights principles including the right of
Dosquebradas, Risaralda Department, in what appeared victims to truth, justice and reparation. The High
to be a botched kidnap attempt. The authorities claimed Commissioner presented the report to the second
the kidnapping was ordered by the FARC. regular session of the UN Human Rights Council on
28 September.
Violence against women
Combatants continued to kill, sexually abuse, kidnap AI country visits/reports
and threaten women and girls. Reports
b On 22 October, 10 army soldiers allegedly entered • Colombia: Reporting, campaigning and serving
the home of a woman in Puerto Lleras Municipality, without fear – The rights of journalists, election
Meta Department. Subsequently, four of the soldiers candidates and elected officials (AI Index: AMR
reportedly raped her in front of her three-year-old son. 23/001/2006)
The woman was reportedly threatened after she • Colombia: Open letter to the presidential candidates
reported the rape to the authorities. (AI Index: AMR 23/013/2006)
b On 9 April, a guerrilla member allegedly raped a • Colombia: Fear and intimidation – The dangers of
woman in Fortul Municipality, Arauca Department. human rights work (AI Index: AMR 23/033/2006)
b On 21 March, paramilitaries reportedly raped and Visits
killed Yamile Agudelo Peñaloza of the Popular Women’s AI delegates visited the country in February, March and
Organization (Organización Femenina Popular), in October.
Barrancabermeja, Santander Department. Her body
was found the next day.
US military aid
In 2006, US assistance to Colombia amounted to an
estimated US$728 million, approximately 80 per cent of
which was military and police assistance. In June, the US
Congress put a hold on US$29 million because of
concerns with the US administration’s failure to consult
adequately with Congress regarding the certification
CONGO
(REPUBLIC OF)
process. Under the certification process, 25 per cent of
aid is dependent on progress by the Colombian
government and state authorities on certain human REPUBLIC OF CONGO
rights indicators. Despite Congress’ decision, the funds Head of state: Denis Sassou-Nguesso
were released by the State Department. However, the Head of government: Isidore Mvouba
State Department subsequently agreed to meet with the Death penalty: abolitionist in practice
Congress and representatives of the US human rights International Criminal Court: ratified
community to discuss concerns about the certification
consultation process and recommendations for
improving it. Some US$17 million went to support the At least 12 men arrested in early 2005 continued to
demobilization process with some US$5 million going to be detained without trial. Two human rights
the Justice and Peace Unit. Human rights conditions for defenders were arrested and their trial on charges of
the release of such funding were maintained. abuse of trust concluded in December. Three asylum-
seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Office of the UN High Commissioner for (DRC) were still detained without charge or trial
Human Rights after nearly three years. There were allegations of
Despite reported efforts by the Colombian government torture and ill-treatment of detainees.
to weaken the mandate of the Office in Colombia of the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Background
especially in relation to its monitoring role, the The National Resistance Council (Conseil national de
government and the UNHCHR announced in September résistance, CNR) retained its arms and bases in the Pool
that the full mandate would be extended for a further 12 region in the south, despite a 2003 peace agreement,
Amnesty International Report 2007 91

102.
CON
and reports continued of looting and lawlessness by its b Four men arrested in May on suspicion of
combatants. involvement in trafficking arms were allegedly beaten
In January, President Sassou-Nguesso became chair repeatedly by members of the police unit responsible
of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and for their detention. One of them, Aymar Mouity, was
Government. reportedly suspended by his feet from the ceiling. The
four were held in the Moukondo detention centre in
Political detainees Brazzaville, in a cramped and dark cell, which reportedly
Former army Colonel Serge André Mpassi and at least 11 left them with damaged eyesight. The men were still
other members or former members of the security held without charge or trial at the end of 2006.
forces, arrested in early 2005, remained in detention
without trial. A further 13 political detainees arrested at Detention and deportation of asylum-seekers
the same time had been released provisionally by the b Three former members of the DRC security forces
start of 2006. Some of the 25 were charged in 2005 with seeking asylum in the Republic of Congo continued to
involvement in the theft of military weapons, and all be held without charge or trial at the headquarters of
were charged with plotting to overthrow the the military intelligence service. Germain Ndabamenya
government. In March the prosecutor of the Brazzaville Etikilome, Médard Mabwaka Egbonde and Bosch Ndala
High Court reportedly told the remaining detainees that Umba had been arrested in March 2004 on the basis of a
an examining magistrate had concluded they had no security agreement between the DRC and the Republic
case to answer. However, by the end of 2006, the of Congo to crack down on each others’ opponents.
authorities had not withdrawn the charges or released However, the Republic of Congo authorities reportedly
the remaining detainees. believed the men were DRC spies.
b By the end of 2006, there had still been no b In October, two people who had escaped from
investigation into allegations that Army Sergeant prison in the DRC and another asylum-seeker were
Francis Ngolo Ngapene was tortured at a military arrested in Brazzaville and deported to the DRC. One of
airbase in Pointe-Noire shortly after his arrest in the two escaped prisoners, Césaire Muzima Mwenyezi,
February 2005, sustaining injuries that included a had been serving a life sentence with 18 other former
broken arm. He remained in Brazzaville’s Central Prison. asylum-seekers deported from Brazzaville to the DRC in
2001. They had been convicted of involvement in the
Detention and prosecution of human rights January 2001 assassination of then President Laurent
defenders Désiré Kabila.
b Human rights defenders Brice Mackosso and There was no progress in bringing to justice those
Christian Mounzéo were detained on 7 April. The two responsible for the enforced disappearance in mid-
men, co-ordinators of an anti-corruption coalition of 1999 of more than 350 refugees who were returning
civil society groups known as Publish What You Pay, from the DRC.
appeared to have been detained because of their
human rights work, which included investigating and AI country reports/visits
denouncing embezzlement of oil revenues by Report
government officials. They were held at the central • Republic of Congo: Political detainees in legal limbo
prison in Pointe-Noire. After the arrests, police (AI Index: AFR 22/003/2006)
searched their offices and homes without a warrant,
seizing documents and other property. The two men
were provisionally released on 28 April to await trial on
charges of breach of trust, complicity in breach of trust
and forgery. A pre-trial judge decided that the breach of
trust charges should be dropped, because there was no
evidence of misappropriation of funds, but the trial
judge ruled that the case should continue on the basis
of the original charges. The defence challenged this
decision but the prosecution succeeded in
reintroducing the charges. After numerous delays, the
trial concluded in December with the original charges
intact. On 27 December the High Court in Pointe-Noire
convicted them and gave them a suspended one-year
prison sentence and a fine. They appealed against
conviction and sentence. Christian Mounzéo was
briefly detained in November on his return from a trip
to Europe where, according to the Congolese
authorities, he defamed President Sassou-Nguesso.
Torture and ill-treatment
Political detainees and criminal suspects were
allegedly tortured and ill-treated.
92 Amnesty International Report 2007

103.
CÔT
CÔTE D’IVOIRE Violence against women
Serious human rights abuses against women and girls
continued to be reported in the government-controlled
part of the country, encouraged by an atmosphere of
REPUBLIC OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE impunity.
Head of state: Laurent Gbagbo b In March, a 14-year-old girl was raped in Abidjan by
Head of government: Charles Konan Banny a member of the Command Centre for Security
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes Operations (Centre de Commandement des Opérations
International Criminal Court: signed de Sécurité, CECOS). A complaint was lodged on her
behalf before the military tribunal, but the
investigation led to no legal proceedings.
Intense diplomatic efforts, notably by the UN and In the part of the country controlled by the New
the African Union (AU), did not prevent further Forces, perpetrators of rape also benefited from
human rights abuses by both government security virtually total impunity.
forces and the New Forces (Forces Nouvelles), the b In May, a 10-year-old girl was raped by the director
coalition of armed groups in control of the north of a radio station in Man. Officials close to the New
since September 2002. Women were targeted with Forces intimidated medical personnel, preventing them
impunity by both sides, a situation aggravated by from issuing a medical certificate confirming the rape.
the lack of a functioning justice system. Supporters
of President Laurent Gbagbo continued to incite Alleged excessive use of force by UN forces
violence against Dioulas, a generic term for anyone In January, anti-UN demonstrations erupted after a
with a Muslim family name originating from the decision by the International Working Group – the
north of Côte d’Ivoire or other countries in the sub- international mediation group on Côte d’Ivoire – not to
region. Hate speech also continued to fuel ethnic extend the mandates of National Assembly members.
clashes in the west of the country. There were Demonstrators demanded the departure of the UN
violent demonstrations targeted at UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and attacked UN
peacekeeping forces, but the presence of about vehicles and buildings while the security forces
12,000 peacekeepers prevented a resumption of reportedly stood by passively.
hostilities. Freedom of expression came under b In Guiglo, following demonstrations in front of the
attack from both sides. UN military compound, UN peacekeepers opened fire
on demonstrators, killing five people and wounding at
Background least 20. Peacekeepers maintained that they acted in
Despite intense political pressure from the self-defence, while supporters of President Gbagbo
international community, the conditions required for claimed that the UN forces had fired at unarmed
a presidential election scheduled for October were demonstrators. The UN opened an internal inquiry into
not met. The election was postponed for a second the incident whose findings had not been made public
time, primarily because of disagreements between by the end of 2006.
supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo and
opposition parties. The President and his UN sanctions and embargos
supporters demanded the immediate disarmament The UN imposed sanctions on individuals responsible
of the New Forces, while the opposition insisted for inciting hatred and grave human rights violations.
on a programme to issue identity documents b In February, the UN Security Council imposed
ahead of the election. targeted sanctions on two leaders of the Young
Supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo criticized Patriots, Charles Blé Goudé and Eugene Djué, for their
the presence of French and UN peacekeeping forces, role during the January anti-UN demonstrations. It also
repeatedly demanding their departure. imposed sanctions on Fofié Kouakou, a New Forces
In January, there were anti-UN demonstrations commander, for recruiting child soldiers, imposing
organized by Young Patriots (Jeunes Patriotes), a forced labour and gross human rights violations by
loosely defined movement supporting President forces under his control.
Gbagbo. UN peacekeepers responded on one occasion, In October, a report drafted by a UN Group of Experts
prompting allegations of excessive use of force. concluded that Ivorian rough diamonds were being
In August, following a scandal surrounding toxic exported in violation of the UN embargo imposed in
waste dumped in Abidjan (the economic capital), the December 2005.
government resigned. However, when a new
government was formed, only two ministries had Demobilization at a standstill
changed hands. Despite international pressure, notably from UNOCI,
In October, the UN decided to extend Laurent the repeatedly postponed disarmament, demobilization
Gbagbo’s mandate for an additional 12 months and to and reintegration (DDR) programme remained
expand Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny’s powers. deadlocked because of disagreement over the
At the end of the year efforts to implement the UN timetable. Supporters of President Gbagbo wanted DDR
decision were being resisted by President Gbagbo and to begin immediately, while the opposition refused to
his supporters. disarm until a programme to issue identity documents
Amnesty International Report 2007 93

104.
CÔT
ahead of presidential elections had been implemented. neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso,
This impasse seemed to have been overcome in mid- continued to provoke conflict over land ownership and
May when the two parties agreed on the simultaneous ethnic clashes. Xenophobic rhetoric employed by
launch of the identification and DDR programmes. By politicians and the news media aggravated the hostility.
June, both the National Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire b In March, intercommunal clashes occurred in
(Forces Armées Nationales de Côte d’Ivoire, FANCI) and several villages including Gohouo, Zagna, Baïbly and
the New Forces had reportedly regrouped some 12,000 Doekpe alongside the zone controlled by French
combatants each. However, by August, the UNOCI had soldiers and UNOCI. Clashes broke out after members
collected only a limited number of arms from pro- of the indigenous Guéré ethnic group attempted to
government militias in the west when the New Forces repossess plantations occupied by Burkinabè planters.
declared that they would suspend disarmament due to A number of people were killed and thousands
obstacles in the identification process. By the end of displaced.
2006, no further progress on the implementation of the
DDR program had been reported. Freedom of expression under attack
Journalists and media organizations were harassed and
Human rights violations by security forces attacked by the security forces and by pro-government
The security forces were responsible for arbitrary militias, notably during the January anti-UN
arrests, torture and extrajudicial executions of demonstrations.
detainees suspected of supporting the New Forces. b In January, Young Patriots attempted to set fire to a
b In January, in Abidjan, members of the CECOS car in which journalists of the newspaper 24 Heures
arrested Dioulas and nationals of neighbouring were travelling on their way to a meeting of the
countries and accused them of financing the rebels. International Working Group.
Some detainees were reportedly tortured and at least b In November, members of the security forces
one, Diallo Ouatreni, died as a result. entered the premises of state-owned Ivorian Radio and
Several cases of arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and Television (Radio-télévision ivoirienne, RTI) by force
torture were reported in the context of widespread and prevented a statement by Prime Minister Charles
extortion at check points and during inspections of Konan Banny from being rebroadcast. The Director-
identity documents. Dioulas and nationals of General and the management board of RTI were
neighbouring countries were reportedly targeted. dismissed by presidential decree.
b In February, Moustapha Tounkara and Arthur Freedom of expression was also limited in the area
Vincent, two young mobile phone salesmen, were held by the New Forces. In Bouaké, the New Forces’
arrested in Abidjan by members of the CECOS. Their stronghold, certain programmes on national radio and
bodies were found the next day, riddled with bullets. television continued to be banned.
b In February, an independent journalist was beaten
Abuses by the New Forces and forced to crawl 40 metres while being sprayed with
Members and supporters of the New Forces were water inside the General Secretariat of the New Forces
responsible for human rights abuses, including in Bouaké.
arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment. A
climate of impunity prevailed due to the absence of a AI country reports/visits
functioning judicial system in the north. Reports
b In January, Khalil Coulibaly, Fane Zakaria and Yeo • Côte d’Ivoire: Provide protection to journalists!
Ibrahime, a former member of the New Forces, were (AI Index: AFR 31/002/2006)
arrested in Korhogo by elements of the New Forces. An • Côte d’Ivoire: Clashes between peacekeeping forces
eyewitness saw them in detention, but they then and civilians – lessons for the future (AI Index: AFR
disappeared. 31/005/2006)
b In August, at least 15 militants of a new party, the Visit
National Union of Ivorians for Renewal (Union In April, an AI delegation visited Côte d’Ivoire to
nationale des Ivoiriens du renouveau, UNIR), led by investigate reports of human rights abuses during the
Ibrahim Coulibaly, were reported to have been January 2006 anti-UN demonstrations and the alleged
arbitrarily arrested by New Forces in Seguela, in the use of excessive force by UNOCI peacekeeping forces.
northwest, and accused of destabilizing the region.
Those arrested were reportedly wearing T-shirts in the
colours of their party. They were released one week
later.
The New Forces also extorted money from civilians
on a large scale, severely limiting freedom of
movement by requiring villagers to pay a “tax” in order
to enter or leave their villages.
Ethnic clashes in the west
In the west, antagonism between the indigenous
population and farmers from other regions or from
94 Amnesty International Report 2007

105.
CRO
CROATIA In October the Appeal Chamber of the Tribunal
confirmed the joining of the cases of Ante Gotovina,
Ivan ¼ermak and Mladen Marka½, three former
Croatian army commanders charged with crimes
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA against humanity and war crimes against Croatian
Head of state: Stjepan Mesi» Serbs, including persecutions, deportation and forcible
Head of government: Ivo Sanader transfers, and murder. Also in October, the Trial
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes Chamber refused requests by the Republic of Croatia to
International Criminal Court: ratified be allowed to appear as amicus curiae (adviser to the
court on points of law) in this and another case against
six Bosnian Croat former military and political leaders.
The legacy of the 1991-95 war continued to Domestic prosecutions
overshadow human rights. Impunity for war crimes Most war crimes trials before local courts were of
remained widespread and the Croatian judicial Croatian Serb defendants, who were often not present
system failed to adequately address wartime human before the court. Despite some steps to investigate and
rights violations, regardless of the ethnicity of the prosecute war crimes against Croatian Serbs,
victims or of the perpetrators. Minorities suffered widespread impunity continued for crimes allegedly
discrimination. Of at least 300,000 Croatian Serbs committed by Croatian army and police officers.
displaced by the conflict, approximately 125,000 b The retrial at the Split County Court of eight former
were officially registered as having returned home. members of the Croatian Military Police accused of
torturing and murdering non-Croat detainees in Split’s
Background Lora military prison in 1992 ended in convictions in
The first phase of Croatia’s accession to the European March. Four of the accused were tried in their absence,
Union (EU) – the screening by the EU and Croatia of the and remained at large at the end of 2006. In an initial
body of EU common rights and obligations binding trial in 2002, all had been acquitted; the acquittals were
member states that candidate countries must accept – subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court.
was completed in October. b In May parliament lifted the immunity from
In June parliament amended the Criminal Code to prosecution of Branimir Glava®, formerly a local leader
remove imprisonment as a punishment for libel. in the Osijek region of the ruling Croatian Democratic
Although libel remained a criminal offence punishable Union, in connection with an investigation into war
by a fine, failure to pay the fine would no longer result crimes against Croatian Serb civilians, including
in imprisonment. murders. The Supreme Court transferred proceedings
from Osijek to Zagreb on the grounds that pressure on
War crimes and crimes against humanity witnesses in Osijek could hamper their impartial
International prosecutions conduct. In December the investigation was suspended
In March, Milan Babi» committed suicide in the when the health of Branimir Glava® deteriorated
Detention Unit of the International Criminal Tribunal following a hunger strike.
for the former Yugoslavia (Tribunal). Sentenced by the b In June the trial started at the Osijek County Court
Tribunal in June 2004 to 13 years’ imprisonment for of two suspects charged with war crimes, including
crimes committed against the non-Serb population, he murders, against Croatian Serbs in and around Osijek.
was detained at the Tribunal as a witness in the trial of b In October, six former members of a military
Milan Marti», charged with war crimes and crimes formation were arrested on suspicion of murdering
against humanity for his wartime leadership role in Croatian Serb civilians in Osijek in 1991-92. Following
areas under Croatian Serb control. the arrests, the Osijek County Court ordered
In April the Tribunal declared Vladimir Kova½evi», a investigation of the role of Branimir Glava® in these
former commander in the Yugoslav People’s Army, unfit crimes.
to stand trial on mental health grounds. He faced trial b In December an indictment was issued by the Zagreb
for war crimes during an attack on the Croatian city of County Court in the case of Rahim Ademi and Mirko
Dubrovnik, including murder, cruel treatment and Norac, transferred by the Tribunal to Croatia in
attacks on civilians. November 2005. Reportedly, the delay in issuing the
In March the Tribunal fined Ivica Marija½i», former indictment was owing to difficulties in incorporating the
editor in chief of the Croatian newspaper Hrvatski list, charges in the Tribunal indictment in an indictment
and Markica Rebi», former head of the Croatian security compatible with Croatian law. Former Croatian army
service, for contempt of court. In 2004 they had disclosed commanders, the two were charged by the Tribunal with
the identity of a protected witness in a closed session in war crimes against Croatian Serbs during military
1997 of the trial of former Croatian army General Tihomir operations in 1993.
Bla®ki». In September the Tribunal also fined Josip Jovi»,
former editor in chief of the Croatian daily newspaper, Right to return
Slobodna Dalmacija, for contempt of court on similiar At least 300,000 Croatian Serbs left Croatia or were
charges. The newspaper had published articles in 2000 displaced during the 1991-95 war, of whom only some
about testimony by Croatian President Mesi» in a closed 125,000 are officially registered as having returned, a
session of the trial of Tihomir Bla®ki». figure widely considered to be an overestimate.
Amnesty International Report 2007 95

106.
CUB
Croatian Serbs faced discrimination in employment AI country reports/visits
and in realizing other economic and social rights. Many, Reports
especially those who formerly lived in urban areas, • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
could not return because they had lost their tenancy International’s concerns in the region, January-June
rights to socially-owned apartments. 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
b In March the European Court of Human Rights • False starts: The exclusion of Romani children from
determined that it did not have jurisdiction to rule in a primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
case, Ble½i» v. Croatia, in which the applicant’s Croatia and Slovenia (AI Index: EUR 05/002/2006)
occupancy rights to her flat in Zadar during the war had Visit
been terminated. The case illustrated the adverse An AI delegate visited Croatia in March.
human rights consequences of discriminatory
terminations of occupancy rights.
b In August the government announced plans to
make 4,000 flats available to former tenancy rights
holders. However, the plan will not be completed until
2011 and occupants will not be able to purchase the flats
at a substantially reduced price, unlike the mostly
ethnic Croat occupants who have previously been able
to purchase the flats where they lived.
Harassment of Croatian Serbs by private individuals
included racist graffiti, threats and damage to property.
b In April an explosive device was thrown into the
CUBA
orchard of a Croatian Serb returnee in the village of Gaj,
near Gospi». The police identified a suspect but the REPUBLIC OF CUBA
Gospi» Public Prosecutor reportedly did not pursue the Head of state and government: Raúl Castro Ruz
case for lack of evidence. (provisionally replaced Fidel Castro Ruz in July)
b In July four houses of Croatian Serbs in the village Death penalty: retentionist
of Biljane Donje, near Zadar, were stoned and International Criminal Court: not ratified
surrounding vegetation set on fire. The incident was
condemned by the government and President. Four
men were arrested shortly after, and were charged in Freedom of expression, association and movement
connection with the attack. continued to be severely restricted. At least 69
prisoners of conscience remained imprisoned for
Violence against women their political opinions. Political dissidents,
Reported incidence of domestic violence remained independent journalists and human rights activists
high. In June a 25-year-old woman was killed by her continued to be harassed, intimidated and detained,
husband, who then committed suicide, while she was some without charge or trial. Cubans continued to
visiting her child who had been placed in a home for feel the negative impact of the US embargo.
children in Zagreb. Before being murdered, she had
reportedly asked the relevant authorities to assist her Background
and protect her from her violent husband. In August During 2006 Cuba secured a place on the UN Human
the non-governmental organization Autonomous Rights Council and assumed the presidency of the Non-
Women’s House Zagreb filed a complaint against Aligned Movement during its XIV Summit in Havana in
employees of local social welfare authorities and two September.
local judges for their failure to act to protect the In July, Fidel Castro underwent surgery and for the
woman. first time since 1959 transferred his responsibilities to
other senior officials, including his brother, Raúl Castro
Lack of access to education for Romani Ruz. Political opposition parties and activities were not
children tolerated.
Member of Romani communities lacked full access to Political relations with the USA remained tense
primary education, especially in areas not covered by despite economic exports of agricultural products to
government and other programmes to promote the Cuba exceeding US$500 million. The US Commission for
inclusion of Roma. Assistance to a Free Cuba issued an update of its
Although “Roma only” classes were increasingly previous report in July. The European Union did not
rare, Romani children still experienced reintroduce sanctions lifted in 2005 despite continued
discriminatory treatment because of teachers’ concerns over the human rights situation in Cuba.
negative stereotyping and low expectations. Romani The US government set up a law enforcement task
children with little or no command of the Croatian force to track down and prosecute those who circumvent
language faced extreme difficulties when they started restrictions on travelling and commercial exchanges
school. The languages spoken by Roma in Croatia with Cuba. In November, for the 15th consecutive year,
were virtually absent from schools, unlike other the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling on
minority languages. the USA to end its embargo on Cuba.
96 Amnesty International Report 2007

107.
CYP
The government continued to deny the UN Special b Juan Carlos González Leiva, President of the Cuban
Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Cuba Foundation for Human Rights, was reportedly the
access to the country. AI and other independent human target of several “acts of repudiation” – involving
rights organizations were also not allowed to visit. government supporters reportedly acting with the
collusion of the authorities – at his home in the city of
Prisoners of conscience Ciego de Avila. He and his family were repeatedly
At the end of the year, 69 prisoners of conscience threatened by demonstrators. Juan Carlos González
continued to be held for their non-violent political Leiva, who is blind, was arrested in March 2002 for
views or activities. Twelve others continued to serve “disrespect”, “public disorder”, “resistance” and
their sentences outside prison because of health “disobedience” and spent two years in prison without
concerns. No releases of prisoners of conscience were trial. In April 2004 he was sentenced to four years’
reported during the year. imprisonment, to be served at his home.
b Orlando Zapata Tamayo was sentenced to three
years in 2003 on charges of showing “contempt to the AI country reports/visits
figure of Fidel Castro”, “public disorder” and Reports
“resistance”. In November 2005 he was reportedly • Cuba: Fundamental freedoms still under attack
sentenced to an additional 15 years for “contempt” and (AI Index: AMR 25/001/2006)
“resistance” in prison. In May 2006, he was again tried • Cuba: Fear for safety/Fear of torture/intimidation/
on the same charges and sentenced to an additional harassment – Miguel Valdés Tamayo and Juan Carlos
seven-year term. He was serving a prison sentence of González Leiva (AI Index: AMR 25/002/2006)
25 years and six months. Visits
AI last visited Cuba in 1988 and has not been allowed
Detention without charge or trial into the country since.
Scores of people continued to be held without charge
on suspicion of counter-revolutionary activities or on
unclear charges. Their legal status remained unclear at
the end of the year.
b Prisoner of conscience Oscar Mariano González
Pérez, an independent journalist who was arrested in
July 2005 as he was about to take part in a
demonstration in front of the French embassy,
remained in detention without charge or trial.
CYPRUS
Freedom of expression and association REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
Severe restrictions on freedom of expression and Head of state and government: Tassos Papadopoulos
association persisted. All print and broadcast media Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
remained under state control. There was a rise in the International Criminal Court: ratified
harassment and intimidation of independent
journalists and librarians. People suspected of links
with dissident groups or involved in promoting human Police officers were caught on camera brutally
rights were arrested and detained. There was an beating two unarmed and handcuffed men. Migrants
increase in arrests on charges of “pre-criminal and asylum-seekers protested at poor detention
dangerousness”. Access to the Internet remained conditions and lack of welfare provision. Turkish
severely limited outside governmental offices and Cypriot students and their teacher were attacked in
educational institutions. Journalist Guillermo Fariñas school by members of a nationalist youth
staged a seven-month hunger strike to obtain access to organization. The government failed to implement
the Internet, without success. national action plans to combat domestic violence
b Armando Betancourt Reina, a freelance journalist, and the trafficking of women for the purposes of
was arrested on 23 May as he took notes and sexual exploitation. The murders of two women by
photographs of evictions from a house in the city of their partners in October and December spurred
Camagüey. He was charged with public disorder. public discussion about violence against women. The
Armando Betancourt was reportedly held authorities failed to conduct an independent,
incommunicado for a week at the police station before thorough and impartial investigation into the death
being transferred to Cerámica Roja prison in Camagüey of a 26-year-old recruit on national service.
on 6 June. He was awaiting trial at the end of the year.
Police ill-treatment
Harassment and intimidation of dissidents The new Independent Authority, established in April to
and activists investigate complaints against the police, assumed its
There was an increase in the public harassment and duties by May. The Independent Authority lacked the
intimidation of human rights activists and political necessary resources to thoroughly investigate all
dissidents by quasi-official groups in so-called acts of complaints received, including those about incidents
repudiation. that occurred before it became operational.
Amnesty International Report 2007 97

108.
CYP
b In April video footage was made public of police domestic violence, the organization reported in
officers ill-treating Marcos Papageorgiou and November. Apanemi also criticized the authorities for
Yiannos Nicolaou, both aged 27, in the early hours of not providing effective protection for victims of
20 December 2005. The two men were reportedly domestic violence or adequate access to justice for
dragged from their cars and handcuffed by plain- foreigners who had been raped, and for failing to
clothes officers after they refused to comply with produce national action plans on domestic violence or
search orders and asked to examine officers’ identity the trafficking of women.
cards. A search found no evidence of drug dealing. The Public debate on violence against women followed
two men were allegedly punched and kicked the murders of two women by their partners in October
intermittently for about an hour by around five and December. Two other women were also murdered
officers from special immediate response and traffic by their partners between August and October.
units while another eight officers from the same units According to statistics on domestic violence reported
and the regular police mocked the suspects. in the press in November in the context of this debate,
Subsequently charged at a police station with resisting 18 per cent of murders from 1980 to 2005 resulted from
arrest and assaulting the police, Marcos Papageorgiou domestic violence, and nearly all of the victims were
was then admitted to hospital for treatment for cranial women.
and arm fractures, and Yiannos Nicolaou, who also had In May the UN Committee on the Elimination of
a fractured arm, was detained overnight without Discrimination against Women expressed concern at
treatment. Their trial was pending. By the end of the lack of training for the judiciary on gender issues;
December, 11 officers were awaiting trial on a number the inadequacy of research and data on the extent and
of charges, including torture. causes of violence against women; the persistence of
trafficking and sexual exploitation of women; and
Detention of foreign nationals discrimination against women migrants, especially
On 4 May detainees held in wing 10 of the Central Prison regarding contracts, working conditions, and access to
in Nicosia, which is especially reserved for failed justice.
asylum-seekers, protested about the duration of their
detention – sometimes for over a year – for residing or Racist violence
working without authorization in the country. Some On 22 November about 20 students from different high
were sentenced to prison terms by the courts, but most schools in Nicosia, wearing hoods, caps and scarves
were held in administrative detention. Following the over their faces, attacked a group of Turkish Cypriot
prison protest, groups of asylum-seekers held students and their Turkish Cypriot teacher with wooden
demonstrations in Nicosia between 8 and 19 May. They sticks during a class at the English School, a mixed
said they were denied the right to work and access to secondary school. The attack was widely condemned,
health and social benefits while their asylum and by the next day the police had identified and
applications were being processed. According to media questioned the perpetrators, all of whom were minors
reports, of an estimated 12,000 asylum-seekers in apart from an 18-year-old, who was charged. The
Cyprus in May, only 300 had a right to work and only 350 youths claimed to represent the organization National
received government support. Voice of Greek-Spirited Youths, which stated on 27
Official information was not available about the November that membership had been withdrawn from
numbers of failed asylum-seekers in prison and those that had been members. Police investigations
migrants detained in police stations around the were continuing at the end of 2006.
country, or the lengths of such detentions. No steps
were known to have been taken to ensure that the Dispute over army death
rights of asylum-seekers were protected while their In October, an inquest opened into the death in
claims were being examined. September 2005 of Athanasios Nicolaou, a military
Migrants were unlawfully detained in Limassol. service recruit aged 26. The police investigation had
b A Sri Lankan national was detained for two and a concluded that his death was suicide, a finding his
half months, even though her sentence for working family disputed. The family believed his death was
without proper authorization, imposed by a court in related to bullying that he had experienced in his unit.
March, had been six weeks’ imprisonment. The police investigation had not adhered to
b A Filipina national was arrested in April for international standards of independence,
working without authorization in a location other than thoroughness and impartiality, failing to examine
the one her employer had stated on the permit. She had crucial evidence properly. The inquest had not
filed a complaint for breach of contract because she concluded by the end of 2006.
had been forced to work at the second location.
AI country reports/visits
Violence against women Reports
The government planned to set up a shelter for victims • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
of trafficking and domestic violence, but within Nicosia International’s concerns in the region, January-June
central prison. Yet it failed to fulfil funding pledges to 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
allow a local non-governmental organization, • Cyprus: Police brutality must not go unpunished
Apanemi, to continue operating a shelter for victims of (AI Index: EUR 17/001/2006)
98 Amnesty International Report 2007

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CZECH REPUBLIC represented in special schools were highlighted by the
European Monitoring Centre on Racism and
Xenophobia in a report on Roma and Travellers in
public education in May. While recognizing
CZECH REPUBLIC improvements, such as the government’s decision in
Head of state: Václav Klaus January to collect anonymous data on the Roma
Head of government: Mirek Topolánek (replaced Ji¦í community, the report pointed to the need for more
Paroubek in August) active state policies.
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes b On 7 February the European Court of Human Rights
International Criminal Court: signed rejected a complaint of discrimination in education
brought by 18 Romani people from Ostrava who had
been placed in special elementary schools for children
The Romani minority faced severe discrimination in with learning difficulties. The Court concluded that the
housing, education, health care and employment. Czech Republic had not breached the prohibition on
Roma and other vulnerable groups were reportedly discrimination and the right to education in the
subjected to police ill-treatment and to racist attacks European Convention on Human Rights and the related
by private individuals. The European Court of Human Protocol. The Court said that it could assess only
Rights ruled that the use of anonymous witnesses individual complaints, not their social context. An
breached the right to a fair trial. appeal against the ruling was pending before the Great
Chamber of the Court.
Background
The Civic Democratic Party won inconclusive elections Forced sterilization of women
to the Chamber of Deputies in June. Mirek Topolánek In May the government criticized a recommendation
was appointed to head a minority government. An offer in the last Ombudsman’s report in 2005 that a law be
to resign his post after a vote of no confidence in the introduced to provide compensation for women who
Chamber in October was declined by President Klaus. were sterilized without their consent. The
On 26 January, the Senate returned an anti- recommendation was not implemented.
discrimination bill to the Chamber of Deputies. The The UN Committee on the Elimination of
Senate opposed the introduction of affirmative action Discrimination against Women in August urged the
to assist disadvantaged groups, and considered the bill government to implement the Ombudsman’s
too vague. The proposed law was intended to fulfil recommendations. It called for a legal definition of
obligations following the Czech Republic’s accession to informed, free and qualified consent; mandatory
the European Union in 2004. Approval of the bill was training of medical professionals and social workers
pending. on patients’ rights; and measures to enable victims of
On 10 July, the Czech Republic ratified the Optional involuntary or coercive sterilization to obtain
Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture. compensation. The Committee commended the
adoption of a national action plan to promote gender
Discrimination against Roma equality and new employment legislation prohibiting
Roma face discrimination in access to housing, discrimination and sexual harassment, but urged
education and employment, according to the final stronger efforts to overcome persistent and
report on the human rights situation of the Roma, Sinti discriminatory stereotypes of women.
and Travellers in Europe by the Commissioner for The European Roma Rights Centre and two local
Human Rights of the Council of Europe, published in human rights groups, the League of Human Rights and
February. The report found that Romani children were Life Together, in a report in August, concluded that legal
unjustifiably placed in special schools for children with protection against discrimination was insufficient and
mental disabilities, and recommended mechanisms to that women remained vulnerable to serious human
enable women who had been sterilized without rights abuses.
informed consent to obtain compensation. b An appeal lodged in December 2005 was still
The number of Roma in low-standard housing has pending in the case of Helena Feren½iková, who was
risen over the last 10 years, according to a report by the sterilized in 2001. In November 2005, a court found
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in August. The that Vitkovice hospital had violated her personal
study found no comprehensive government rights but refused to award financial compensation on
programme combating social deprivation. the grounds that the three-year statute of limitation
b In October, the Chief of Police apologized for the had expired.
misuse of police powers in the town of Bohumin on 4-6
October 2005. Private security guards hired by the Police ill-treatment
municipality had prevented independent observers Reports continued of police ill-treatment of vulnerable
from entering a hostel where several hundred groups, particularly Roma. An independent body was still
residents, many of them Roma, were being targeted for not available to investigate complaints of police abuses.
expulsion by the municipality. b A police officer severely beat Kate¦ina Jacques, a
Concerns that Romani children were being taught in Green Party electoral candidate and senior government
segregated classes in primary schools and were over- human rights official, at a demonstration against the far-
Amnesty International Report 2007 99

110.
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right National Resistance Movement in Prague on 1 May. Same sex partnership
The officer allegedly threw her to the ground, kicked her, In March a law was passed that allowed same-sex
beat her with a truncheon and continued to assault her at couples to register their partnership after the Chamber
the police station where she was taken for questioning in of Deputies overrode a veto by President Klaus. The law
handcuffs. After an internal investigation, the Chief of accorded some of the same rights and obligations as
Police acknowledged that the police action against married couples have, including the rights to raise
Kate¦ina Jacques was inappropriate. The Prime Minister children, to inherit property and to information on the
said the officer’s intervention was “inexcusable” and he health of the partner, and the mutual obligation to pay
should leave the police. The officer was reportedly maintenance. It did not provide the right to adopt
dismissed. Charges against him were withdrawn in children.
November on the grounds that the arrest had followed
police regulations. Kate¦ina Jacques lodged an appeal AI country reports/visits
against the withdrawal of the charges. Report
b On 30 June, two municipal policemen were alleged • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
to have detained a young Romani man in Brno, driven International’s concerns in the region, January-June
him to the outskirts, beaten him, put an unloaded gun 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
in his mouth and pulled the trigger. They reportedly Visits
suspected him of attacking and robbing the son of one AI representatives visited the Czech Republic in March
of the officers and other schoolchildren. In November, and September.
they were convicted of beating and torturing the man,
and given a suspended two-year prison sentence and
banned from serving as police officers for five years.
Both lodged appeals.
Racially motivated attacks on Roma
Roma were often the target of racially motivated
attacks, and penalties handed down by the courts did
not reflect the seriousness of the crimes or the racist
motives of the assailants.
b On 17 May, three young members of the National
DEMOCRATIC
Resistance Movement broke into a block of flats in
Neratovice, banging on the doors of Romani residents
and threatening to kill them. Police detained the men
REPUBLIC OF THE
on the spot.
b On 31 August, three young men had their
sentences for an attack on a Romani couple in Jeseník
CONGO
increased by the regional appeals court in Olomouc.
Two were given prison terms of three years and three DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
months and three years respectively, and the third Head of state and government: Joseph Kabila
received a suspended three-year prison sentence. A Death penalty: retentionist
public outcry had greeted the original suspended International Criminal Court: ratified
sentences on all three, passed by the district court in
Jeseník in January 2004.
b A two-year suspended sentence on a soldier The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
convicted of beating a Romani man, imposed by the remained unstable, and several regions of the
Regional Court in Plzeò in September, was met with country suffered widespread insecurity and ethnic
protests by five Romani organizations. tensions. Sporadic conflict continued in most eastern
provinces. Extrajudicial executions and other
Fair trial rights denied unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, unlawful
On 28 February the European Court of Human Rights detentions, acts of torture or ill-treatment, and life-
found the Czech government had violated the right to threatening prison conditions continued on a daily
fair trial by allowing witnesses to remain anonymous basis. Decades of neglect, poor governance and
in breach of cross-examination requirements under mismanagement of resources, compounded in the
the European Convention on Human Rights. In east by war, left essential services and infrastructure,
response to an appeal lodged on behalf of Hasan including the justice, health and education sectors,
Krasniki on 2 September 1999, the Court found that, in a state of near-collapse.
while the use of anonymous witnesses could be
compatible with the Convention, in this case it was not. Background
The reliability of anonymous witnesses should be Presidential and legislative elections held in July and
tested and the conviction should not rely exclusively or October offered some hope that the fragile peace might
determinedly on anonymous statements. Czech law has be strengthened, but several armed factions remained
since been amended. suspicious of or openly hostile to the peace process.
100 Amnesty International Report 2007

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The election period was marked by numerous human Unlawful killings
rights violations including enforced disappearances, FARDC forces were responsible for the majority of
arbitrary arrests, ethnic violence, excessive use of violations of human rights and international
force by the security forces to break up political humanitarian law reported during 2006, including
protests, and restrictions on freedom of expression and unlawful killings, rapes, acts of torture, enforced
assembly. The announcement of the results of the first disappearances, illegal detentions and looting. FARDC
round of presidential elections on 20 August triggered units failed to protect civilians from attack by armed
street battles in the capital, Kinshasa, between soldiers groups. Poor living conditions for troops and
loyal to transitional President Joseph Kabila and inadequate payment of salaries contributed to FARDC
supporters of Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, in ill-discipline.
which 23 people were killed. Congolese armed groups opposed to the peace
More than 1.6 million people were internally process and to integration in the FARDC were also
displaced, while 410,000 were living as refugees in responsible for numerous grave human rights abuses in
neighbouring countries. The volatile security situation the provinces of North- and South-Kivu, Katanga and
continued to limit humanitarian access to many areas Orientale (Ituri). The human rights abuses, some of
of eastern DRC. Security in the east and in Kinshasa which appeared to be ethnically motivated, included
remained dependent to a large extent on the rapes, unlawful killings and torture. Some appeared to
overstretched UN peacekeeping force, MONUC, which be war crimes. Foreign armed groups, including the
comprised around 17,000 personnel at the year’s end. Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (Forces
MONUC was reinforced by a European Union military Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda, FDLR), and
rapid reaction force (EUFor) which was deployed in other Burundian and Ugandan armed groups also
Kinshasa for the period of the elections and was continued to be active on Congolese territory and to
withdrawn by the end of the year. commit serious abuses.
Despite a UN arms embargo, small arms continued to b In January, soldiers of an FARDC integrated brigade
proliferate. The government was itself accused of a shot dead seven people, including two infants, at a
major violation of the embargo in July, for failing to church in the village of Nyata in the district of Ituri.
notify the UN of the import of a shipment of tanks, b In January, forces of Laurent Nkunda’s armed
armoured personnel carriers and quantities of group, opposed to the government and composed
ammunition through the port of Matadi. mainly of Kinyarwanda-speaking fighters, launched
attacks against government forces and civilian centres
Security sector reform in North-Kivu province. They allegedly committed
One of the transitional government’s major priorities numerous unlawful killings and raped scores of women
was to dismantle the myriad armed forces in the country. from non- Kinyarwanda-speaking communities.
This process, which began in 2004, involved disarming all b In August, FDLR forces ambushed, killed and
former government soldiers and armed group fighters robbed four civilians in Kahuzi-Biega, South-Kivu. A
and offering them demobilization or enrolment into the number of abductions of women and girls by FDLR
unified national army, the Armed Forces of the combatants were also reported.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces Armées de la
République Démocratique du Congo, FARDC). However, Child soldiers
both the army integration process and the national Several thousand children were either still associated
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) with armed forces or armed groups or had not entered
programmes suffered delays, serious logistical, technical the DDR programme and were not accounted for. In
and management difficulties, and a lack of full political areas of eastern DRC where insecurity persisted,
support. As a result, the programmes were still only children continued to be recruited, including some who
partly complete by the end of the year. Other areas of had only recently been demobilized. Some children
security sector reform, including the integration of the were forcibly recruited and others were forced to
national police force, remained behind schedule and rejoin armed groups because the government had not
largely unimplemented. provided them with meaningful support once returned
The army integration programme had serious to their communities. The majority of children released
shortcomings, failing to tackle parallel chains of and reunited with their communities were poorly
command and to exclude alleged perpetrators of supported and protected on their return to civilian life,
grave human rights abuses from FARDC ranks. It did and were not given adequate educational or vocational
not include training for all FARDC soldiers in opportunities. There was no mechanism to ensure their
international humanitarian and human rights law. The protection once returned to their communities and
devastation of the socio-economic and humanitarian many children remained at risk of being recruited
environment posed a huge challenge to efforts to again.
reintegrate former fighters into civilian life. Many b In June, six former child soldiers who were being
former combatants remained without promised reunified with their families by an international non-
government financial support or community-based governmental organization were abducted in
employment projects for long periods after Kabalekasha, North-Kivu, by heavily armed fighters.
demobilization. Disgruntled former fighters were a They were taken to a military camp where they were
threat to security in many areas of the country. held in a pit in the ground. A pregnant woman
Amnesty International Report 2007 101

112.
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accompanying the children was beaten. They were later Lubumbashi, Katanga province, was threatened with
released, but three of the children were subsequently death. The perpetrators were reportedly
targeted once more by fighters and badly beaten. representatives of the Union of Congolese Nationalists
and Federalists (Union nationale des fédéralistes du
Violence against women and girls Congo, UNAFEC) a political party led by the then
Rape of women and girls by government security forces Minister of Justice. The threats followed ACIDH public
or armed groups remained widespread in all areas of statements urging voters to elect politicians based on
the DRC. Few women had access to adequate medical their human rights record and calling for the
treatment for consequent injuries or illnesses. Women dissolution of violent youth wings of political parties.
and girls who had been raped also suffered widespread
social discrimination and rejection by their families and Impunity
communities. Some perpetrators of human rights abuses were brought
Thousands of girl child soldiers who should have to justice. However, impunity persisted in the majority of
entered the national DDR programme were not cases and the government awarded certain armed group
accounted for. Many had been forcibly recruited and leaders command positions in the FARDC, despite well-
used as sex slaves by adult fighters. Many commanders founded allegations against them of serious human
and fighters resisted releasing the girls, considering rights abuses. These included Peter Karim and Mathieu
them as their sexual possessions. Other girls, fearing Ngodjolo, commanders of two Ituri armed groups who
further discrimination and social exclusion, avoided were appointed as colonels in the FARDC in October.
entry into the DDR programme. There was no Their forces were granted so-called amnesties.
systematic government effort to trace these missing Rehabilitation and reform of the DRC’s civilian judicial
girls or to offer them appropriate demobilization and system, enabling it to investigate past and present
reintegration support. human rights abuses in a competent, independent and
b In August, agents of the Congolese National Police impartial manner, remained very slow.
(Police Nationale Congolaise, PNC), reportedly raped 37 b In April, seven FARDC soldiers were sentenced to
women and girls from the village of Bolongo-Loka, life imprisonment on charges of crimes against
Equateur province, and subjected other villagers to humanity, including the rape of 119 women in Equateur
acts of ill-treatment and torture. The military province in December 2003.
authorities later arrested nine individuals, including b In August Yves Panga Mandro Kahwa, leader of an
seven PNC agents. They had not been brought to trial by armed group in Ituri, was sentenced to 20 years’
the year’s end. imprisonment for crimes against humanity.
Another armed group leader, Kyungu Mutanga,
Torture and ill-treatment known as Gédéon, leader of a mayi-mayi armed group in
Acts of torture and ill-treatment, committed by northern Katanga province, surrendered to the
government security services and armed groups, were authorities in May after committing atrocities, including
routinely reported across the country. Arbitrary unlawful killings, rape and torture, in the region. By the
arrests, illegal detention, including incommunicado end of the year he had not been charged or tried.
and secret detention (sometimes amounting to
enforced disappearance) and prolonged detention Unfair trials and death sentences
without trial remained commonplace. Extremely harsh Unfair trials continued to take place and death
conditions were reported in most detention centres sentences continued to be passed, the vast majority by
and prisons, in many cases amounting to cruel, military tribunals. No state executions were reported,
inhuman or degrading treatment. although at least one summary execution by the
b In August, 84 people, mainly fishermen but military was recorded.
including women and children, from N’galiema b In June, after an unfair and summary trial, a
commune in Kinshasa were detained by members of the military tribunal in Kinshasa imposed long prison
Republican Guard , a military force under the command sentences on evangelical church leader Pasteur
of President Joseph Kabila. They were accused of being Fernando Kutino, his colleague, Pasteur Timothée
“rebels” loyal to Joseph Kabila’s electoral rival, Jean- Bompere Mboo, and a third man, Junior Nganda. The
Pierre Bemba. They were forced to strip naked and arrests and trials appeared to be politically motivated.
subjected to sustained beatings. A number of them
were reportedly tortured in other ways. They were then International justice
placed in a confined cell and held for 48 hours without In March, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, leader of an Ituri
food. They were later released without charge. armed group, the Union of Congolese Patriots (Union
des Patriotes Congolais, UPC), was arrested and
Attacks on human rights defenders transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in
Human rights defenders continued to receive The Hague. Thomas Lubanga was formally charged in
anonymous death threats and were routinely harassed August with committing war crimes, namely the
by the authorities. recruitment and use in hostilities of children aged
b In April, Hubert Tshiswaka, director of Action under 15. Pre-trial hearings to confirm the charges
against Impunity for Human Rights (Action contre against him began on 8 November. Thomas Lubanga
l’impunité pour les droits humains, ACIDH) in was the first person to be arrested by the ICC.
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113.
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AI country reports/visits citizenship, to benefit from family reunification, and to
Reports access social protection. ECRI also highlighted an
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Kinshasa atmosphere of impunity, created by the low rate of
must meet its responsibility to protect civilians prosecutions for incitement to racial hatred despite,
(AI Index: AFR 62/003/2006) among other things, inflammatory statements by some
• Open letter to DRC parliamentarians on legislation politicians and the media.
implementing the Rome Statute (AI Index: AFR In October the UN Committee on the Elimination of
62/004/2006) Racial Discrimination expressed a number of concerns
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: Time to end after a periodic review of Denmark. These included the
threats against human rights defenders (AI Index: refusal of the Public Prosecutor to instigate
AFR 62/006/2006) proceedings in some cases, despite an increasing
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: International number of racially motivated offences and hate speech
Criminal Court’s first arrest must be followed by complaints, including in connection with the
others throughout the country (AI Index: AFR publication of cartoons that many Muslims found
62/008/2006) profoundly insulting. It also raised concern about the
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: Acts of political fact that asylum-seekers could not lodge appeals in the
repression on the increase (AI Index: AFR courts against decisions by the Refugee Board and that
62/014/2006) asylum-seekers and their children were sometimes
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: Elections are a housed for several years in asylum centres. It also
chance to embrace human rights reform (AI Index: highlighted asylum-seekers’ limited involvement in
AFR 62/015/2006) social, professional, educational and cultural activities
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: Children at war – outside the centres and the reduction of social benefits
creating hope for their future (AI Index: AFR for those newly arrived in Denmark, a policy which
62/017/2006) reportedly created marginalization and poverty.
Visits
In February and March, AI delegates visited various Violence against women
provinces in eastern DRC and Kinshasa. In August, reviewing Denmark’s sixth periodic report,
the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women expressed concern about the extent of
violence against women and girls; trafficking of women
and girls; and the length of the “reflection period”
which meant that after 30 days trafficked women would
ordinarily be deported to their country of origin. The
Committee also highlighted the vulnerability of foreign
married women who had been granted temporary
DENMARK residence permits on the grounds of marriage and who
risked expulsion if they left the marital home because
of violence by their husbands.
In December, the government announced an
KINGDOM OF DENMARK extension of the “reflection period” to 100 days.
Head of state: Queen Margrethe II
Head of government: Anders Fogh Rasmussen Terrorism legislation
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes In June new legislation with the stated aim of
International Criminal Court: ratified countering terrorism came into force. The scope and
breadth of these provisions gave rise to concern that
previously legitimate political activities may be deemed
Concern mounted over worsening intolerance and unlawful. Judicial oversight of police access to private
xenophobia against refugees, asylum-seekers, and confidential information was weakened.
minorities in general and Muslims in particular. The
scope and breadth of new legislation with the stated Solitary confinement
aim of countering terrorism gave rise to concern In December legislation further reducing the time limits
about its impact on fundamental human rights. for solitary confinement of prisoners was adopted.
However, it failed to introduce, even for under-18s, a
Discrimination mandatory maximum duration in cases concerning
In its report on Denmark, published in May, the homicide, drug-related crime or security offences.
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance There were reductions in the use of solitary
(ECRI) expressed deep concern at worsening confinement against under-18s for other offences.
intolerance and xenophobia against refugees, asylum-
seekers, minorities in general and Muslims in Freedom of expression
particular. ECRI noted with concern legislative In December, three investigative journalists were
provisions disproportionately restricting the ability of acquitted of all charges in connection with the
members of ethnic minorities to acquire Danish publication of classified information about Iraq and the
Amnesty International Report 2007 103

114.
DOM
extent of the government’s knowledge, in the run-up to were black. There were reports of ill-treatment by
the Iraq war, about the existence of weapons of mass migration officials and security forces.
destruction in Iraq. The prosecuting authorities stated b Eight-year-old Francisca José was among five
that they did not intend to appeal against the acquittals. children rounded up by migration officers on
4 January in the capital Santo Domingo. She was
Policing allegedly hit twice, causing her to bleed from the
There were reports that police used excessive force in mouth. She was held overnight at a detention centre
dealing with three separate demonstrations against until a local human rights organization managed to
evictions in Copenhagen. secure her release by proving her Dominican
In September, the mother of 21-year-old Jens Arne nationality.
Ørskov filed a civil action against the police and the b Scores of people were injured in September when
Ministry of Justice in connection with her son’s death in an overcrowded bus from the Dominican Department
police custody in June 2002. The regional state of Migration carrying 120 alleged irregular Haitian
prosecutor concluded he died from the combined immigrants crashed into a river in Elías Piñas province
effects of intense physical activity with an intake of en route to the border. Some of those being deported
alcohol and cannabis. However, Danish as well as reportedly had valid documentation permitting them
international medical experts disputed the official to work in the country. Many of the injured reportedly
cause of death, stating instead that he died from did not receive medical attention before being
asphyxiation after being forced to lie on his stomach expelled to Haiti.
and having pressure applied to his back while Access to nationality
handcuffed. Nonetheless, the prosecuting authorities The Dominican authorities failed to comply with the
decided not to press charges or take disciplinary action September 2005 ruling from the Inter-American Court
against the police officers involved. The case was of Human Rights in the case of two Dominico-Haitian
scheduled to be heard in October 2007. girls who had been denied Dominican nationality. The
Court had called for the girls to receive compensation
AI country reports/visits and for the Dominican authorities to implement the
Report necessary measures to grant nationality to the
• Denmark: Jens Arne Ørskov’s death in custody – A thousands of other Dominicans and their children who
mother’s quest for justice (AI Index: EUR had been denied it.
18/001/2006)
Assaults
There were reports of violent indiscriminate attacks
against Haitians. Human rights organizations claimed
that killings of Haitians were not investigated by the
authorities.
b Two Haitian nationals, Edison Odio and Jako
DOMINICAN Medina, were reportedly set alight by a mob on 7 March
in the community of Yabonico in Las Matas de Farfán in
apparent revenge for the murder of the local mayor.
REPUBLIC Jako Medina subsequently died of his injuries. AI was
unaware of any proceedings initiated by the authorities
to bring those responsible to justice.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC People smuggling
Head of state and government: Leonel Fernández The bodies of 24 Haitians were found on 11 January near
Reyna the border town of Dabajón in the north of the country.
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes They had apparently suffocated to death as they were
International Criminal Court: ratified being illegally transported in a truck to find work in the
Dominican Republic. The bodies were reportedly
thrown from the back of the truck which contained
There were further mass expulsions of Haitians and more than 60 people. Four Dominican nationals,
Dominico-Haitians (Dominican of Haitian descent), including two members of the military, were on trial at
some of whom were reportedly ill-treated. There were the end of 2006 in relation to the incident.
reports of unlawful killings by the security forces.
Domestic violence remained a serious concern. Unlawful killings by security forces
According to official figures 204 people were killed in
Discrimination against Haitians and shoot-outs with police between January and August,
Dominico-Haitians down from 345 for the same period in 2005. However,
Expulsions concerns remained that a number of these fatal
There were continued mass illegal expulsions of Haitian shootings may have been unlawful. Fifty-seven
migrant workers and Dominico-Haitians, many of members of the security forces were killed during the
whom were rounded up by officials simply because they same period.
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115.
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b Twenty-two-year-old Elvin Amable Rodríguez, a
spokesman for the left-wing organization Broad
Popular Front for Struggle (Frente Amplio de Lucha
ECUADOR
Popular) was fatally shot in the head twice by police on
26 September in the town of Navarrete. Police claimed REPUBLIC OF ECUADOR
he died in a shoot-out. Two officers were in pre-trial Head of state and government: Alfredo Palacio
detention at the end of the year. Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
b On 9 July members of the Dominican armed forces International Criminal Court: ratified
reportedly opened fire on a group of Haitian nationals
as they tried to cross the border near the town of
Dajabón. One of the group was allegedly shot in the Social unrest continued. There were reports that the
back and subsequently died in hospital. security forces used excessive force against
demonstrators. Infant and maternal mortality rates
Violence against women remained high and domestic violence continued to
According to government statistics, in the first six be a concern. There were reports of torture and ill-
months of the year 43 women were killed by their treatment and prison conditions remained harsh.
partners or former partners. In April alone 1,800 Nearly 100 killings were reported on the Colombian
incidents of domestic violence were reported to the border.
authorities.
Background
Right to health Rafael Correa was elected President in November on a
Despite receiving sufficient international funding, platform of constitutional, economic and social reform.
nearly 70 per cent of all people requiring antiretroviral He was due to take office in January 2007.
treatment in the Dominican Republic did not receive it. Former President Lucio Gutiérrez was acquitted of
Those most at risk were the poor and marginalized, charges including corruption and undermining the
including the Haitian migrant population and security of the state and released.
Dominico-Haitians, who faced significant obstacles in Three magistrates of the new Supreme Court,
gaining access to treatment and care. There were appointed during the interim government of Alfredo
reports of employees being tested for HIV without their Palacio, were dismissed in November following
consent or as a condition of their employment. allegations of corruption.
Human rights defenders Protests
Human rights defenders continued to be intimidated Social unrest and protests against economic policies
and harassed. and the impact of extractive companies on the
b Teolé Yeolé García, a Dominico-Haitian rights livelihood of communities continued throughout the
activist, was illegally deported from Santo Domingo to year. Scores of demonstrators were reportedly injured
Haiti on 2 February. He was detained while trying to and there were allegations of excessive use of force by
intervene on behalf of fellow Dominicans who were the police and military.
being illegally rounded up to be deported. During 2006 several provinces were placed under a
b Adonis Polanco, an HIV/AIDS activist, received state of emergency for periods of at least 60 days in
anonymous death threats, apparently because of his response to the unrest. Under emergency legislation,
outspoken criticism of the government’s failure to freedoms of expression, movement and association
provide adequate treatment for people living with were suspended and the security forces were
HIV/AIDS in his local community in the town of Boca empowered to search homes without judicial warrants.
Chica.
Human rights defenders
AI country reports/visits Human rights defenders, community leaders and
Reports environmentalists who criticized government policies
• Dominican Republic: Open letter from Amnesty and the impact of extractive companies continued to be
International to the President of the Dominican threatened and intimidated. Some faced
Republic regarding the rights of Haitian migrant unsubstantiated charges against them.
workers and their descendants (AI Index: AMR b The legal team representing Indigenous communities
27/001/2006) suing a multinational oil company for failing to clean up
• “I am not ashamed!”: HIV/AIDS and human rights in the pollution caused by drilling in Sucumbíos province
the Dominican Republic and Guyana (AI Index: AMR from 1964 to 1992, was repeatedly threatened. No
01/002/2006) investigation was opened and no victim received
Visits protection, despite precautionary measures ordered by
AI delegates visited the Dominican Republic in January the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
and June.
Right to health
Infant and maternal mortality remained high. Poor
women and children continued to be denied access to
Amnesty International Report 2007 105

116.
EGY
maternity and infant health services free of charge, as implementation in 2000 of the US-backed military aid
guaranteed under 1994 legislation. The government package known as Plan Colombia, human rights
reportedly failed to ensure that clear and accessible organizations have documented over 700 killings,
information reached poor women. nearly 100 of them in 2006, in Sucumbíos province. In
many cases the victims including civilian men, women
Women’s human rights and children were alleged to be criminal suspects; some
Domestic violence remained a concern. The number of showed signs of torture. According to witnesses, police
complaints filed in the 30 women and family police and military officers were implicated in some of the
stations reportedly increased in 2006. According to the killings. The vast majority of cases were not reported by
Women’s Defence Office, this was partly due to the the relatives of the victims or investigated by the
promotion of the 1995 Law Against Violence Against authorities for fear of reprisals. There were reports of
Women And The Family, and improved training for law threats against witnesses, prosecutors, police officers,
enforcement officials in responding to violence against governors and other local officials.
women.
AI country reports/visits
Torture and ill-treatment Visit
In February the UN Working Group on Arbitrary An AI delegation visited Ecuador in October.
Detention expressed concern that ill-treatment and
torture to extract confessions or punish suspects were
common in police stations.
Police and military officers charged with human
rights violations continued to be tried by police or
military courts which were neither independent nor
impartial. In the vast majority of cases, those
responsible for violations were not held to account.
b At the end of the year, 20 police officers sentenced
to prison terms ranging from two to 16 years for the
enforced disappearance of Elías López Pita in 2000
EGYPT
remained at liberty.
ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
Prison conditions Head of state: Muhammad Hosni Mubarak
From April to June emergency legislation was imposed Head of government: Ahmed Nazif
in the overcrowded prison system following security Death penalty: retentionist
problems inside prisons and a strike by prison International Criminal Court: signed
personnel demanding improved funding. The
government announced an investment of US$8million
in infrastructure to improve prison conditions. At least 18 people were killed and more than 100
In September the Constitutional Court confirmed its injured in bomb attacks in Dahab (southern Sinai) in
2003 ruling that an article of the Code of Penal April. Peaceful protesters calling for independence
Procedure which denied suspects detained while for the judiciary and political reform were violently
awaiting sentencing the right to be conditionally dispersed by police. Hundreds of members of the
released was unconstitutional. Reportedly between banned Muslim Brothers organization were arrested
5,000 and 7,000 inmates out of a total prison and scores were held awaiting trial at the end of the
population of 14,000 were waiting to be sentenced. year. Thousands of suspected supporters of banned
Islamist groups, including possible prisoners of
Rights of ethnic minorities conscience, remained in detention under emergency
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human legislation without charge or trial; some had been
rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous people held for more than a decade. Torture and ill-
expressed concern at the limited access of Indigenous treatment in detention continued to be systematic.
peoples to health and education, and the negative In the majority of torture cases, the perpetrators
impact of extractive activities on their environment were not brought to justice. At least three people
and living conditions. The Special Rapporteur raised were sentenced to death; four others were executed.
concerns at the failure to fulfil constitutional
guarantees to Indigenous peoples to be consulted on Background
extractive projects in their territories. There were Despite calls for the state of emergency to be lifted, it was
allegations of human rights violations involving armed renewed in April for two years. The state of emergency, in
forces personnel employed to guarantee the security of force continuously since 1981, facilitated human rights
extractive companies. violations including prolonged detention without charge,
torture and ill-treatment, undue restrictions on freedom
Killings on the Colombia border of speech, association and assembly, and unfair trials
Reports of incursions by Colombian military and armed before military courts and (Emergency) Supreme State
groups in Ecuadorian territory continued. Since the Security Courts. The government set up a committee in
106 Amnesty International Report 2007

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March to prepare a new anti-terrorism law to replace the b In April, Osama Mostafa Hassan Nasr (known as
emergency legislation. Abu Omar) was brought before the public prosecutor.
In February parliament voted to delay for two years This was the first time since his abduction from Italy in
local elections scheduled for April. The government February 2003 that he was allowed to have a lawyer
said the delay would allow time for the drafting of a present during interrogation. He described his
new law to strengthen the powers of local council abduction in Italy and unlawful return to Egypt. He said
administration, but critics said it would make it more he was tortured while held in secret detention in Egypt
difficult for potential independent candidates for the and that methods included alternating extremes of
presidency to meet new conditions of registration temperature and electric shocks to the genitals. There
introduced in 2005. was no indication that the allegations were the subject
In May, the Court of Cassation confirmed the five- of any investigation by the Egyptian authorities. In
year prison sentence imposed on Ayman Nour, leader November, the Italian prosecutor investigating Abu
of the al-Ghad party, who had come a distant second in Omar’s abduction received an 11-page undated
presidential elections in September 2005. There were handwritten letter from Abu Omar which had been
concerns that his prosecution and trial were politically smuggled out of Istiqbal Tora Prison. This gave details
motivated. of his torture and described the inhumane conditions
There were sporadic outbreaks of sectarian violence to which he remained exposed in detention. In 2005 the
between Muslims and Christians. In April, three days of Italian authorities had issued warrants for the arrest of
religious violence in Alexandria resulted in at least 22 agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency in
three deaths and dozens of injuries. connection with the abduction.
Egypt and the European Union failed to agree on b The trial of 13 suspects in connection with
implementation of an association agreement that came bombings in Taba and Nuweiba in October 2004
into force in 2004 in the context of the European continued before the (Emergency) Supreme State
Neighbourhood Policy. Negotiations reportedly Security Court. Allegations by the accused that their
foundered mainly on differences over human rights in confessions had been extracted under torture were
Egypt and over what the agreement should say with dismissed by the court, which sentenced Muhammed
regard to nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Gayiz Sabbah, Usama ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Nakhlawi and
In December, the Supreme Administrative Court Yunis Muhammed Abu Gareer to death. Two other
overturned an earlier decision by an Administrative defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment and
Court in April 2006 which recognized the right of eight others received prison sentences ranging from
Egypt’s Baha’is to be certified as Baha’is on official five to 15 years.
documentation. This followed an appeal by the
Ministry of Interior. The decision of the Supreme Administrative detention
Administrative Court meant that Baha’is must register Emergency legislation allowing for indefinite detention
themselves as Muslims, Christians or Jews if they wish without charge continued to be used. Some detainees
to obtain official documents such as birth and death had been held for more than a decade, despite orders
certificates and identity cards. for their release by the courts. The non-governmental
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights estimated that
Violations in the ‘war on terror’ as many as 20,000 people remained in detention
Despite increasing evidence to the contrary, the without charge or trial, with many held in appalling
authorities continued to deny their involvement in the conditions. The Ministry of Interior denied this and said
torture and secret detention of people detained as part there were no more than 4,000 detainees, but did not
of the “war on terror”, despite the Prime Minister’s provide further details. Many detainees were reported
acknowledgement in 2005 that some 60 suspects had to be ill due to poor food and hygiene, severe
been returned to Egypt from US custody. The UN Special overcrowding and a lack of adequate medical care.
Rapporteur on promotion and protection of human In August, non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
rights while countering terrorism sought to visit the and human rights activists created the Egyptian
country to assess Egypt’s human rights record in the Network for the Defence of Detainees to train lawyers
“war on terror”, but did not obtain a positive response on issues of administrative detention in Egypt and to
from the Egyptian authorities. mobilize civil society on this issue.
Following the bomb blasts in Dahab, the security b In June the trial opened of 14 people charged in
forces killed at least 13 alleged suspects between April connection with the Cairo bombings of April and May
and August. A police officer was also reportedly killed 2005. However, hundreds of people arrested
and two others wounded during clashes in northern following the bombings reportedly remained in
Sinai. Hundreds of people were arrested, accused of administrative detention, despite having obtained
having links with what the security forces claimed was a release orders from the courts. Most were believed to
new terrorist group called Unity and Holy War (Tawhid be neighbours or acquaintances of those standing
wal Jihad). Scores more were arrested in the north of trial or to have used the same mosques for prayer. In
Cairo in September for alleged links with al-Qa’ida. August 2006, scores of them went on hunger strike in
Some of those cleared of terrorism-related charges by protest at their continued detention. Some women
the courts continued to be held under administrative relatives of detainees were summoned to the State
detention orders. Security Intelligence office in Shubra al-Kheima,
Amnesty International Report 2007 107

118.
EGY
north of Cairo, and detained for two days, during Two senior judges, Mahmoud Mekki and Hisham
which they were insulted and threatened with Bastawisi, Vice-Presidents of the Court of Cassation,
electric shocks. were made to face a disciplinary board that convened
at the High Court Building in Cairo in May after they
Torture and ill-treatment called publicly for an inquiry into alleged electoral
Torture of both political detainees and criminal fraud during the 2005 parliamentary elections. The
suspects remained common and systematic, and case, which resulted in Mahmoud Mekki being cleared
reportedly led to several deaths in custody. Frequently and an official reprimand for Hisham Bastawisi,
reported methods included beatings, electric shocks, provoked widespread concern and public protests and
prolonged suspension by the wrists and ankles in demonstrations by opposition political parties, pro-
contorted positions, death threats and sexual abuse. reform groups and trade unionists in support of the two
b Pro-reform activists Mohammed al-Sharqawi and judges. These protests were violently dispersed by the
Karim al-Sha’ir were arrested following demonstrations riot police and more than 500 demonstrators, mostly
in April and May and released on 22 May. Both men Muslim Brothers, were arrested. They included Essam
were rearrested following a demonstration on 25 May. al-Aryan, Mohammed Morsy and Maged Hassan, all
They were beaten in the street and taken to Qasr Nil prominent members of the Muslim Brothers. Most were
police station where they were tortured. Mohammed released after a short time.
al-Sharqawi was reportedly sexually abused by those
who detained him. Both men were released in July. Freedom of expression, association and assembly
There were persistent reports of criminal suspects The rights to freedom of expression, association and
being tortured during interrogation at police stations. assembly continued to be restricted. Some NGOs faced
b Emad al-Kabir, a 21-year-old taxi driver from Bulaq obstacles registering and obtaining legal status.
Dakrur in Giza Governorate, was arrested in January Journalists continued to be threatened, harassed and
after intervening to stop an argument between police imprisoned because of their work.
officers and his cousin. While in detention at Bulaq b Tal’at Sadat, nephew of the assassinated former
Dakrur Police Station, he was slapped and hit with a President Mohamed Anwar Sadat, was sentenced to
stick on his hands and legs. He was accused of “resisting one year’s imprisonment with labour and a fine in
the authorities” and presented before the Public October for defaming the armed forces and spreading
Prosecutor, who ordered his release on bail. However, false rumours. He had given a series of media
he was instead returned to the police station, held interviews in which he alleged that senior army officers
overnight and tortured, including being raped with a had been implicated in the killing of the former
stick. One of the police officers filmed the rape using a president by Islamist soldiers in 1981. He also suggested
mobile phone camera and threatened Emad al-Kabir that President Hosni Mubarak – then Vice-President –
that this would be circulated by video in his had been involved. Although a civilian, he was tried and
neighbourhood to cause him public humiliation and convicted by a military court, after being stripped of his
intimidate others. In November, the video, which had parliamentary immunity.
reportedly circulated widely in the Bulaq Dakrur In July, a controversial press law was passed by
neighbourhood and among taxi drivers, was posted on parliament according to which press freedom
the Internet. It provoked strong protests from human continued to be restricted. Certain publishing offences,
rights organizations and was widely publicized in the such as insulting public officials, continued to carry
media, leading the Public Prosecutor in December to custodial sentences. Independent and opposition
order the arrest of two police officers who were then newspapers withheld publication for a day in protest at
referred to the South Cairo Criminal Court for trial. the new law and hundreds of media workers protested
Emad al-Kabir’s case, however, was exceptional. outside the National Assembly.
Although several police officers were tried during the b Ibrahim Eissa, chief editor of the opposition
year for torturing other prisoners, torture allegations newspaper al-Dostour, Sahar Zaki, a journalist on the
were rarely investigated and prosecutions of alleged newspaper, and Saied Mohamed Abdullah were
perpetrators were the exception. sentenced in June to one year’s imprisonment and a
fine for insulting the President and spreading false
Threat to judicial independence rumours. The charges related to articles in April
In June a new law regulating the judiciary was passed reporting a lawsuit by Saied Mohamed Abdullah against
by parliament. Despite some positive provisions, such the President and senior officials in the ruling National
as restrictions on ministerial powers, pro-reform Democratic Party. The case was still before the Court of
judges as well as opposition parliamentarians allied to Appeal at the end of the year.
the Muslim Brothers criticized the law for failing to
guarantee the independence of the judiciary. In July Death penalty
the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of Death sentences continued to be imposed. Three
judges and lawyers expressed concern about the new people convicted of terrorism-related offences were
law, noting the lack of clear criteria for the selection sentenced to death after an unfair trial. At least four
and appointment of judges, and the absence of basic other people were executed.
fair trial guarantees in the disciplinary procedures b Brothers Ezzat and Hamdi Ali Hanafi were executed
for judges. in June. They had been sentenced to death by the
108 Amnesty International Report 2007

119.
ELS
(Emergency) Supreme State Security Court in
September 2005 for armed resistance to a raid by the
security forces searching for unspecified drugs. The
EL SALVADOR
Court’s procedures violated basic principles for fair
trial, including the right to appeal before a higher REPUBLIC OF EL SALVADOR
tribunal. Head of state and government: Elías Antonio Saca
Death penalty: abolitionist for ordinary crimes
Refugees and migrants International Criminal Court: not ratified
On 3 January the authorities announced that they
would forcibly return up to 650 detained Sudanese
nationals to Sudan. The detainees, who included Impunity for past human rights violations, including
refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants, had been enforced disappearances, persisted. Reports of
arrested after police violently broke up a peaceful violence against women continued, but
demonstration outside the UNHCR office in Cairo on investigations remained inadequate. There were
30 December 2005, killing at least 27 Sudanese nationals threats against human rights defenders and political
and injuring dozens of others. The authorities activists.
subsequently released the detainees and said they
would not return them to Sudan. However, they did not Background
initiate any investigation into the killings. The public security situation continued to cause concern.
In August, Egypt submitted its report for Various government initiatives to tackle criminal
consideration by the Committee on the Rights of All violence did not bring improvements in the security
Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. This situation. The Human Rights Procurator expressed
report was due in 2004. concern at the possible re-emergence of death squads.
Human rights and civil society organizations protested
AI country reports/visits that anti-terrorism legislation passed in September was
Reports ill-defined and put human rights at risk, including
• Egypt: Fear of forcible return/fear of torture and ill- freedom of assembly and expression.
treatment – Up to 650 Sudanese nationals (AI Index:
MDE 12/001/2006) Enforced disappearance of children
• Egypt: Amnesty International calls for inquiry into In September the Inter-American Court of Human
killings and opposes threatened collective Rights ruled that the state of El Salvador had only
expulsions of Sudanese protesters (AI Index: MDE partially fulfilled or failed to fulfil the majority of the
12/002/2006) Court’s recommendations from its 2005 ruling,
• Egypt: Amnesty International condemns attack including providing an effective and timely
against civilians in Dahab (AI Index: MDE investigation into the enforced disappearance of three-
12/006/2006) year-old Ernestina and seven-year-old Erlinda Serrano
• Egypt: Disciplinary action against judges a challenge Cruz in June 1982 during a military operation in
to judicial independence (AI Index: MDE Chalatenango. The Court ruled that the state had yet to
12/007/2006) determine the whereabouts of the girls, investigate and
• Egypt: Amnesty International concerned about the bring those responsible to justice and, among other
Egyptian security repression against peaceful things, had not yet set up a National Search Commission
protesters in Cairo (AI Index: MDE 12/009/2006) to trace disappeared children.
• Egypt: Violent attacks and arrests of peaceful At the end of the year, two other cases of children
protesters must stop (AI Index: MDE 12/010/2006) who were victims of enforced disappearance during the
• Egypt: Abusive emergency powers should not be armed conflict were being studied by the Inter-
entrenched in new anti-terrorism law (AI Index: MDE American Court of Human Rights and a decision
12/014/2006) regarding the responsibility of the state in the enforced
Visits disappearances was pending.
AI delegates visited Cairo in July and December to
attend conferences and in September an AI delegation, Violence against women
headed by the Secretary-General, had meetings in According to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, 286
Cairo with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab women were killed between January and August 2006.
States and with the Minister of Interior and other Despite four years of campaigning by women’s rights
Egyptian government officials. organizations, the Attorney General’s Office had yet
to establish a special prosecutor or division to address
the killings of women. Very little progress was made in
investigating cases of women who had been killed and
in some cases raped in previous years.
Human rights defenders
Individuals and organizations working to defend
human rights were threatened and harassed.
Amnesty International Report 2007 109

120.
EQU
b Members of the Among Friends Association, custody reportedly as a result of torture. One
including the organization’s director, William execution was carried out. Prison conditions
Hernández, received death threats and were reportedly improved slightly. Families were forcibly evicted from
under surveillance in an attempt to halt the their homes.
organization’s work on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender people. On 1 June, William Hernández Background
was threatened at gunpoint outside the organization’s In January the navy seized a boat carrying military
office in San Salvador, soon after the police officer supplies when it made an unscheduled call in Malabo
assigned to protect him had left for the day. Two days and held it for about a month. The boat had been
before this attack, the office was broken into. Windows chartered by the UN and was carrying weapons for its
were broken, files were searched, and threats were peace-keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of
written on pieces of paper and left in the office. No the Congo (DRC).
valuable office equipment was stolen, but a number of Under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General,
the organization’s planning documents were taken. President Obiang Nguema and the Gabonese President,
Although in all cases the incidents were reported to the Omar Bongo, began talks in February aimed at resolving
authorities, investigations proved superficial, and no a 34-year dispute over ownership of the island of
one had been brought to justice by the end of 2006. Mbañe. However, no agreement was reached by the
end of the year.
Death squads In July the European Union signed an agreement with
There was increasing concern among civil society the government to assist the country in areas of human
organizations at the possible re-emergence of death rights and democratization. These included legal
squads which had been active during the 1980-1991 reform and training for law enforcement and prison
armed conflict. officials.
b Francisco Antonio Manzanares and Juana In August the President unexpectedly dismissed the
Monjarás de Manzanares were murdered in their home government and appointed a new one led by Prime
on 2 July. Their daughter, Marina Manzanares, a long- Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfube, the first
standing politicial activist for the main opposition member of the Fang ethnic group to be appointed to
party, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, that position which was previously reserved for
and radio broadcaster, had received death threats prior members of the Bubi ethnic group. He declared that the
to the murders, as had her mother. Marina Manzanares’ fight against corruption was the main priority of the
brother, Francisco Manzanares, also a political activist, new government.
was killed in 1996. No one had been brought to justice In September parliament approved a law forbidding
for these murders by the end of 2006. torture, which came into force in November.
Arbitrary arrests and detentions
Although there were fewer arrests of political
opponents than in previous years, 14 prisoners of
conscience continued to be held, including one held
without charge or trial since 2003. Five people
“extradited” from Libreville, Gabon, in 2004 appeared
to be prisoners of conscience. They were provisionally
charged with terrorism and rebellion in May, but the
EQUATORIAL charges were not formalized and they were not tried.
Four remained in prison at the end of 2006 while one
was released in a presidential pardon in June.
GUINEA Members of the Convergence for Social Democracy
(Convergencia para la Democracia Social, CPDS) and
other political activists were arrested and briefly
detained, mainly in towns on the mainland, although
REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA some were arrested in Malabo. They were often
Head of state: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo prevented from holding meetings even when they had
Head of government: Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfube official permission. None was charged with any
(replaced Miguel Abia Biteo Borico in August) offence.
Death penalty: retentionist b In April, a government official and several police
International Criminal Court: not ratified officers entered the CPDS office in the town of Rebola,
Bioko Island, and arrested Carlos Oná Boriesa, Carmelo
Iridi and about eight others. They were having a
There were fewer reports of political arrests than in meeting which the authorities claimed was illegal.
previous years. Prisoners of conscience and political Carlos Oná Boriesa and Carmelo Iridi were taken to the
detainees arrested in 2003 and 2004 continued to police station in the nearby town of Baney and
be held without charge or trial, although about 40 reportedly flogged. Each was subjected to 50 lashes. All
were released in June. One person died in police were released without charge by the end of the day.
110 Amnesty International Report 2007

121.
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b In October, police officers in Bata arrested four officers took him from Black Beach prison, drove him to
members of the banned Progress Party of Equatorial the airport and put him on a plane bound for Spain,
Guinea (Partido del Progreso de Guinea Ecuatorial). where he was granted asylum.
They were arrested at home without warrants and at
least one, Filemón Ondó, was hit when he was arrested Forced evictions
and again two weeks later when being interrogated. The combination of pressure on land, government
The four were taken to Bata Central Police Station programmes to rehabilitate major cities and
where they were threatened with torture. About three infrastructure, and lack of security of tenure led to
weeks later they were transferred to Bata Public Prison. several mass forced evictions, carried out without
They were released without charge in mid-November. consultation, compensation or due process. Hundreds
José Antonio Nguema, one of the detainees, had been of homes were destroyed in Malabo, and hundreds
arrested in June 2004 and held without charge or trial more families were at risk of forced eviction in Malabo
until June 2006. and Bata.
Several people, including some CPDS members, were b In July, the Prime Minister and other civilian
reportedly arrested in districts of the mainland for officials, armed soldiers and police officers arrived in
refusing to clear roads without payment. They included Atepa and Camaremy communities in the Banapa
Antonio Eusebio Edu, a 75-year-old member of the neighbourhood of Malabo. They forcibly evicted some
CPDS in Nsok-Nsomo, who was arrested and briefly 300 families and demolished their homes. Soldiers hit
detained in May. residents who resisted and one man, Santiago Obama,
was arrested and briefly detained. He was subsequently
Death in detention released uncharged.
One person was known to have died in police custody,
apparently as a result of torture. The authorities, Prison conditions
however, claimed that he had committed suicide. There was some improvement in prison conditions,
b In August, José Meviane Ngua was arrested in Kogo, particularly in Black Beach prison following the opening
on the border with Gabon, following a domestic dispute. of a new block in late 2005. However, four South African
He was reportedly drunk and resisted arrest. That night prisoners held there since 2004 remained permanently
two police officers carried him out of Kogo police station handcuffed and shackled. The provision of food and
and took him to the local hospital where he was medicines remained inadequate, although ill prisoners
declared dead on arrival. The police claimed that he had were seen by doctors. The International Committee of the
committed suicide. However, hospital personnel stated Red Cross continued to visit prisons periodically.
that he had bruises in his neck and marks on his back
consistent with beating. No autopsy was carried out. Human rights defenders
The next day a police commission came from Bata to The order suspending lawyer and human rights
investigate but left without having interviewed the defender Fabian Nsue Nguema from the Bar
family or hospital personnel. No officers were known to Association, which was arbitrarily imposed in June
have been prosecuted in this case. 2005, was lifted in July.
Death penalty AI country reports/visits
Fernando Esono Nzeng, who had been convicted of Statements
murder and sentenced to death in early 2004, was • Equatorial Guinea: Prisoners of conscience released
publicly executed in April in Evinayong, on the mainland, (AI Index: AFR 24/002/2006)
after the Supreme Court turned down an appeal. • Equatorial Guinea: 300 families evicted and
homeless (AI Index: AFR 24/006/2006)
Prisoner releases
On his birthday in June, President Obiang Nguema
“pardoned” 40 prisoners. They included 15 prisoners of
conscience convicted of plotting to overthrow the
government in an unfair trial in June 2002. They also
included about 20 political detainees held without
charge or trial since their arrest in 2004 who appeared
to be prisoners of conscience. A South African national
convicted in November 2004 in an unfair trial of
attempting to overthrow the government was released
on humanitarian grounds.
b Weja Chicampo, a leader of the Movement for the
Self-Determination of Bioko Island (Movimiento para la
autodeterminación de la isla de Bioko, MAIB), had been
held without charge or trial since his arrest in March
2004. Following his pardon, he was expelled from the
country, despite being an Equatorial Guinean national.
Without informing him or his family, several security
Amnesty International Report 2007 111

122.
ERI
ERITREA threat of armed opposition from the Sudan-based
Eritrean Democratic Alliance, which Ethiopia also
supported.
ERITREA Religious persecution
Head of state and government: Issayas Afewerki Minority faith groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses
Death penalty: retentionist and over 35 evangelical Christian churches remained
International Criminal Court: signed banned, their places of worship shut down and
religious gatherings prohibited. Only the four main
faiths in Eritrea were allowed to function – the Eritrean
Several thousand prisoners of conscience were Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, the Lutheran
detained incommunicado without charge or trial. (Mekane Yesus) Church and Islam. Dissenting groups
Some former government leaders were held in a within them were also repressed as were those who
secret place of detention. The whereabouts of many opposed government authority over them. Patriarch
political or religious prisoners, including journalists, Antonios, head of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, was
were not known. Many were in effect victims of stripped of his powers in mid-2005 and has been held
enforced disappearance. An army general remained under house arrest since then for protesting at the 2004
held after 14 years, and three religious prisoners detention of three Orthodox priests and secret prison
were still held after 12 years. Many detainees were sentences imposed on them.
tortured. Prison conditions, including being held in Dozens of members of these banned churches were
underground cells or metal shipping containers, arrested during the year for worshipping at their
amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading homes, at weddings, or when proclaiming their faith to
treatment. Virtually no medical treatment was others. They were taken to police stations, security
provided. prisons or army camps, and often tortured or
threatened to make them sign a statement as a
Background condition of release that they would cease practising
Two thirds of the population were dependent on their faith. They were held incommunicado and
international emergency food aid. The government illegally, without being brought before a court or
expelled several international NGOs delivering charged with any offence. National service conscripts
humanitarian assistance. Donors continued emergency were also punished if they practised their faith.
humanitarian assistance but most had long suspended An estimated 2,000 members of minority evangelical
development aid because of the government’s failure to churches, including some 20 pastors, remained in
implement both the constitutional process of detention in harsh conditions. They included children
democratization and international human rights and women. At least 237 people were arrested during
treaties it had ratified. 2006, fewer than in 2005, possibly because of the
As in previous years, human rights defenders were vigorous international criticism of religious
not allowed to operate and independent civil society persecution. Most prisoners were held in remote army
organizations and unregistered faith groups were camps in underground cells or metal shipping
prohibited. The only political party allowed was the containers. None had been allowed access to their
ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), families since their arrest. The pastors were mostly held
formerly the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). together in Karchele security prison in Asmara.
No dissent was tolerated. b Helen Berhane, a well-known gospel singer in the
The UN Security Council extended until January 2007 evangelical Rema Church, was released in November
the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) but after being detained in Mai Serwa army camp where she
criticized the stalemate in the negotiations over the had been held since May 2004. The previous month she
border. Eritrea continued to demand that Ethiopia had been taken to hospital in Asmara in extremely poor
implement the International Boundary Commission’s health after being tortured again.
judgement following the 1998-2000 armed conflict and Three Jehovah’s Witnesses remained held
refused any negotiation on border demarcation. The incommunicado at Sawa military camp near the Sudan
UN Security Council criticized Eritrea’s increasing border since 1994, when the government stripped all
restrictions on UNMEE’s movements in the temporary Jehovah’s Witnesses of basic citizens’ rights for refusing
security zone it administers on the Eritrean side of the to bear arms or perform military service. Jehovah’s
border, and the arrests of several UNMEE personnel Witnesses were arrested during the year, bringing to 27
during 2006. It also criticized the incommunicado the number held without charge or trial.
detention without charge or trial of an international
UNMEE staff member, held for some weeks on Prisoners of conscience and political prisoners
reportedly false charges of trafficking. Eleven former government ministers and former EPLF
The government continued to host armed Ethiopian leaders remained in indefinite secret detention
and Sudanese opposition groups. It sent military without charge or trial as prisoners of conscience
assistance and weapons to the Union of Islamic Courts following the September 2001 crackdown on dissent.
in Somalia, according to a UN panel monitoring Their whereabouts in detention had never been
violations of the Somalia arms embargo. It faced the disclosed by the government or confirmed by other
112 Amnesty International Report 2007

123.
ERI
sources. There were fears for their safety after new Rule of law
claims in 2006 that General Ogba Abraha and possibly The few functioning courts failed to protect the
others held secretly with them had died in detention constitutional rights not to be tortured or arbitrarily
in the intervening years through illness and denial of detained. Special Courts handed down prison
adequate medical treatment. The government did not sentences in secret summary trials for corruption and
reply to appeals to clarify their fate or whereabouts or political offences where the accused had no right to
allow independent access to them. They had in effect legal defence representation or appeal. Secret
become victims of enforced disappearance. They administrative security committees reportedly
included former Vice-President Mahmoud Ahmed imposed prison sentences without any semblance of
Sheriffo and his former wife Aster Fissehatsion, and trial.
former Foreign Ministers Haile Woldetensae and Military courts were not functioning. Military
Petros Solomon. conscripts accused of a military offence such as
Hundreds of other prisoners of conscience arrested desertion, attempted desertion or being absent without
at the same time or later, who were alleged to have permission were arbitrarily imprisoned or punished
opposed the government, remained in detention with torture, or possibly executed in the most serious
incommunicado and without charge or trial. The cases, on the order of their military commander.
whereabouts of many of them were not known. Several
asylum-seekers forcibly returned from Malta in 2002 Torture and ill-treatment
and Libya in 2003 were still detained. Suspected government opponents and alleged
b Aster Yohannes, Petros Solomon’s wife and a supporters of exile opposition groups were tortured in
former PFDJ central committee member, remained in security or military custody. Religious prisoners were
incommunicado detention since 2003 when she tortured to force them to abandon their faith. Torture
returned from the USA to be with her children, whom was also a long-established punishment for civilian
she has not been allowed to see. prisoners held in army or security custody and
conscripts accused of military offences. Methods
Journalists included being tied in painful positions for hours or
Nine journalists working for the state media were days, particularly that known as “helicopter”, and
detained in November. One was released but by the end beatings.
of 2006 eight continued to be held without charge or Religious and political prisoners were held in harsh
trial in the capital, Asmara. conditions amounting to cruel, inhuman and degrading
Ten journalists working in the private media arrested treatment. Many were held in metal shipping
in the 2001 crackdown on dissent and one working in containers which were overcrowded, lacked sanitary
the state media arrested in 2002 were still detained facilities and were subject to extreme temperatures.
incommunicado without charge or trial. Some were Medical treatment was virtually non-existent and
held in the Karchele security prison in Asmara but the prisoners were only taken to hospital when they were
whereabouts of the others were not known. All private almost dying. General Bitwoded Abraha, detained
media remained banned since 2001. almost continually since 1992 in Karchele security
prison in Asmara, suffered mental illness for years due
Military conscription to poor prison conditions but has received no medical
National service, comprising military service and or psychiatric treatment. Aster Yohannes was also in
development service such as road-building and poor health in the same prison without adequate
construction work, remained compulsory and medical treatment.
extended indefinitely for all men aged between 18 and
40, although women were reportedly allowed to leave AI country reports/visits
at the age of 27. Conscript reserve duties extended to Statements
the age of 50 and former EPLF veterans were also • Eritrea: Independence Day call for a year of urgent
subject to recall. Some conscripts were permitted to human rights improvements (AI Index: AFR
perform their service in civilian government 64/004/2006)
employment but under military conditions. • Eritrea: Five years on, members of parliament and
The internationally recognized right of conscientious journalists remain in secret detention without trial
objection was denied. This applied particularly to (AI Index: AFR 64/009/2006)
Jehovah’s Witnesses who refused military service
(though not development service) on faith grounds.
The authorities instituted harsh measures to
counter the widespread evasion of military service
and desertion by thousands of conscripts. Police
searches and round-ups were carried out, and
hundreds of parents suspected of involvement with
their children’s evasion or desertion were detained,
some possibly indefinitely. They were released only
on payment of a large financial bond for the missing
conscript to surrender.
Amnesty International Report 2007 113

124.
EST
ESTONIA were injured and one person was hospitalized with
head injuries. The counter-demonstrators, who
reportedly defined themselves as Estonian nationalists,
physically and verbally attacked marchers, spat on
REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA them and threw stones and eggs. Law enforcement
Head of state: Toomas Hendrik Ilves (replaced Arnold officials failed to intervene to prevent the attacks by
Rüütel in October) the counter-demonstrators; the authorities had not
Head of government: Andrus Ansip provided sufficient resources to police the march
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes adequately.
International Criminal Court: ratified
International treaties
Estonia ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN
Mass statelessness and discrimination against Convention against Torture.
ethnic minorities continued to be of serious concern.
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial AI country reports/visits
Discrimination expressed concern about Estonia’s Reports
anti-discrimination laws and its current definition of • Estonia: The right to freedom of peaceful assembly
what constitutes a minority. Police failed to provide must be protected (AI Index: EUR 51/001/2006)
adequate protection for participants in a Gay Pride • Linguistic minorities in Estonia: Discrimination must
march in Tallinn. end (AI Index: EUR 51/002/2006)
Visits
Statelessness AI delegates visited Estonia in March and August.
Around 130,000 people living in Estonia remained
without citizenship and as a result faced discriminatory
practices, particularly in the fields of educational,
labour and cultural rights. For example, stateless
residents were not allowed to work in certain parts of
the public sector, and had only limited rights in terms of
movement outside the country.
Stateless residents generally held either temporary
or permanent residence permits. In April, Estonia
introduced the category of long-term resident which,
among other things, reduced restrictions on the right to
live and work in other European Union member states.
All permanent residents automatically qualify as long-
term residents. However, in June 2007 a new language
ETHIOPIA
requirement was set to be introduced whereby long-
term residency would only be granted to those who had FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
achieved the required level in Estonian. Head of state: Girma Wolde-Giorgis
Head of government: Meles Zenawi
Minority rights Death penalty: retentionist
Discriminatory practices, including barriers to International Criminal Court: not ratified
employment, continued towards the country’s
linguistic minority, affecting some 430,000 people,
approximately 30 per cent of the population. There were a number of political trials of opposition
In August, the UN Committee on the Elimination of party leaders, journalists and human rights
Racial Discrimination adopted its Concluding defenders. A parliamentary commission reported
Observations on Estonia. The Committee recommended that the security forces did not use excessive force
that the definition of what constitutes a minority set out when they killed 193 demonstrators in 2005, but
in the Law on Cultural Autonomy of National Minorities defecting commission leaders said there had been
should be amended to include non-citizens, including excessive use of force but that their findings had
stateless people with long-term residence. The been changed by the government. Scores of people
Committee further recommended that Estonia enact were detained and some reportedly tortured for
anti-discrimination legislation in accordance with the opposition activities. Civilians were detained and
UN Convention against Racism. The Committee also some were tortured or killed in the armed conflicts in
suggested that Estonia consider providing free Estonian the Oromia and Somali regions, and also in Gambella
language courses to all those applying for citizenship. region. Thousands of political detainees arrested in
late 2005 were released but several thousand others
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights still remained in detention without charge or trial.
In August, participants in a Gay Pride march in Tallinn The “genocide” trial of the former Dergue
were attacked by more than a dozen counter- government (1974-1991) ended in December after
demonstrators. More than 10 participants in the march 12 years with convictions of 33 members in court and
114 Amnesty International Report 2007

125.
ETH
25 others in their absence, including former other people, some defendants complained in court
President Mengistu Hailemariam. Several death that they had been tortured to make false confessions.
sentences were passed by courts but there were no Berhane Mogese, a lawyer, was on trial with 22 others.
executions. A separate trial of Mesfin Woldemariam and Berhanu
Negga continued. They were accused of instigating
Background violence during demonstrations at Addis Ababa
Five million people were dependent on emergency University in 2000.
food aid, especially in the drought-affected Somali
region. Journalists
The government continued to face armed opposition Fourteen independent press journalists arrested in
from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Ogaden November 2005 were tried with the CUD leaders. Kifle
National Liberation Front (ONLF), both based in Eritrea. Mulat, president of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists
Ethiopia supported the armed Sudan-based Eritrean Association, was charged in his absence and sought
Democratic Alliance (EDA). asylum abroad. Two other journalists, Solomon
Ethiopia sent military assistance to Somalia’s Aregawi and Goshu Moges, were tried in separate
Transitional Federal Government (TFG), contravening capital cases.
a UN arms embargo, to support it against the forces of All private newspapers which had criticized the
the “Islamic Courts”, which captured the capital, government in connection with the elections remained
Mogadishu, in June and extended control over most of shut down. Many journalists fled the country.
central and southern Somalia. In October, Ethiopia b Frezer Negash, a reporter for a US-based website,
increased military assistance to the TFG after the was arrested in February when three months pregnant,
Council of Somali Islamic Courts (COSIC) declared but released on bail two weeks later.
jihad (holy war) against Ethiopia. After increasing At least four journalists were charged under the
clashes with COSIC forces, the large Ethiopian force Press Law in connection with alleged offences
defeated COSIC in several days of fighting in committed some years previously.
December, and took control of Mogadishu. It placed b In March, Abraham Gebrekidan of Politika
the TFG force in power and pursued fleeing COSIC magazine was jailed for a year for allegedly publishing
fighters to southwestern Somalia. false information.
The UN Security Council extended until January 2007 A new Press Law, proposed by the government in
the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) but 2003 to replace the 1992 Press Law, was still under
criticized the stalemate in negotiations over the debate. Combined with provisions in the new Criminal
contested border. Ethiopia said it accepted the Code of May 2005, it could lead to further legal
International Boundary Commission’s judgment restrictions on the freedom of the media and
following the 1998-2000 armed conflict, but refused to imprisonment of journalists.
implement it.
The National Human Rights Commission, legally Human rights defenders
established in 2004, held a first workshop for non- Among defendants in the CUD trial were four human
governmental organizations (NGOs) in mid-2006. It had rights defenders: Professor Mesfin Woldemariam,
not started operating by the end of the year. former president of the Ethiopian Human Rights
Council; Daniel Bekelle, a lawyer and staff member of
Political trials ActionAid; Netsanet Demissie, chair of the Organization
Following the disputed May 2005 elections and mass for Social Justice in Ethiopia; and Kassahun Kebede, an
arrests of opposition party activists, leaders of the Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA) official.
Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), journalists Two ETA officials were arrested in October without
and civil society activists were brought to trial in May. explanation but released on bail after some days. Three
They faced charges including treason, outrage against other officials were arrested in December and allegedly
the Constitution and other capital charges. The 76 tortured. The ETA, Ethiopia’s longest-established trade
defendants included Hailu Shawel, the CUD president, union, continued to contest court actions by the
Berhanu Negga, an economics professor, and Mesfin Ministry of Justice to ban it and replace it by a pro-
Woldemariam, a retired geography professor. In government organization bearing the same name.
addition, 34 prominent Ethiopians in exile were charged
in their absence. Five Voice of America radio journalists Political arrests
who were US citizens were among nine defendants Dozens of people were arrested in Addis Ababa in late
discharged before the trial started. 2006 for possession of a book secretly written in
All but three defendants refused to defend prison by Berhanu Negga or a calendar containing
themselves on the ground that they did not expect a fair images of the CUD prisoners and calling for civil
trial. The trial had not concluded by the end of 2006. AI disobedience.
considered they were prisoners of conscience and sent b Yealemzawde Bekelle, a lawyer working for the
a trial observer in October. European Commission in Addis Ababa, was arrested in
Four other CUD-related trials on similar charges October, reportedly after being named by a tortured
were not completed at the end of the year. In the trial of prisoner. She was released on bail after eight days’
Kifle Tigeneh, an elected member of parliament, and 32 incommunicado detention.
Amnesty International Report 2007 115

126.
ETH
Several thousand opposition supporters detained in Torture and ill-treatment
different parts of the country after the November 2005 Torture was reported by methods including electric
demonstration were released on bail after some weeks shocks and beatings on the feet while tied upside down.
or months in detention without charge. However, some The victims were political prisoners, particularly those
thousands were believed to be still detained without detained on suspicion of supporting armed political
charge or trial during 2006. groups such as the OLF and ONLF.
b Alemayehu Fantu, an engineer and supermarket
Detentions and killings in the regions owner in Addis Ababa, was reportedly tortured in
In the Oromia region, there were large-scale arrests in October to make him admit to publishing or distributing
different areas during anti-government the CUD calendar, and to name others. He was taken to
demonstrations, particularly by school and college court with visible injuries, which the judges did not
students. Some protesters called for the release of investigate, but released on bail on November.
Diribi Demissie, a Mecha Tulema Association Several of the CUD leaders held in Kaliti prison in
community leader on trial since 2004. He and his co- Addis Ababa were at first denied medical treatment for
defendants were charged with supporting the OLF, but illnesses contracted as a result of harsh and unhygienic
AI considered them prisoners of conscience. Hundreds prison conditions. Professor Mesfin Woldemariam,
of Oromo people detained in November 2005 were aged 76, was refused physiotherapy for back and leg
reportedly still held during 2006 without charge or complaints. There were fears for his health as a result of
trial, as well as others detained in previous years for his hunger strikes in December 2005 and February
alleged OLF connections. 2006. He recovered quickly, however, after being
Numerous people accused of ONLF connections were treated in hospital for pneumonia in September. There
reportedly detained in the Somali region, and many were serious delays in provision of medical treatment
political prisoners arrested in previous years were still for Hailu Shawel for eye surgery, and Berhanu Negga for
held without charge or trial. Extrajudicial executions a heart complaint.
were also reported. b Serkalem Fasil, a journalist who was seven months
In Gambela region in the southwest, there were pregnant, was taken to hospital to give birth, but
scores of arrests of members of the Anuak ethnic group. denied intensive care treatment for her baby son. She
Hundreds of people arrested during mass killings in was returned to prison soon after the birth, taking the
Gambela town in December 2003 were still detained baby with her.
without charge or trial. Four prisoners of conscience were moved as
Some 60 peaceful demonstrators belonging to the punishment to the Central Prison (Karchele), which was
Sidama ethnic group in the southern region were in the process of demolition. CUD leaders Muluneh
arrested in Awassa and other southern towns in March. Eyuel and Amanuel Araya and journalists Eskinder
They were all released on bail by May. Negga and Sissay Agena were kept for over two months
in dark underground cells in solitary confinement.
Commission of inquiry
In March parliament established a Commission of Dergue trial
Inquiry to investigate the killings during the 2005 The trial of members of the 1974 military government
demonstrations. The Commission, headed by a judge, known as the Dergue ended in December after 12 years.
took evidence from the public and NGOs and Of the 72 people originally charged, 33 had been in
interviewed CUD leaders in prison. In July, the custody since 1991, 14 others had died in custody and 25
Commission’s chairperson fled the country and his were tried in their absence, including former President
replacement did the same in September. They alleged Mengistu Hailemariam, who had asylum in Zimbabwe.
that the Prime Minister had instructed them to change All were found guilty of capital offences including
their finding – that the security forces had committed genocide and mass killings, with sentencing due in
excessive force – which they were not willing to do. 2007. The long series of other trials of officials of the
In November the report presented to parliament former government for killings during the “Red Terror”
stated that the Commission had found no evidence of campaign against “anti-revolutionaries” in 1977-79 was
excessive use of force by the security forces. The list of nearly completed. Many defendants were jailed for
people killed numbered 193, including six police long periods (which most had already served, leading to
officers, far more than the 78 reported by police. The their release) and several death sentences were
Commission found that 765 people, including 99 imposed. Many convictions went to appeal.
women and several children, had been wounded,
almost four times the police figure. Violence against women
Victims had been shot by army or police bullets, According to Ethiopian women’s organizations,
some in the back while escaping and others possibly violence against women through domestic violence,
targeted by snipers. At least 17 people imprisoned rape and harmful traditional practices, including
earlier in Kaliti prison, mostly on remand for ordinary female genital mutilation and early marriage, remained
criminal offences but also some political prisoners, widespread. Female genital mutilation was prevalent
were shot dead in their cells at the same time on among many ethnic groups of different faiths in remote
suspicion of supporting the demonstrations and trying rural areas and abductions of girls were associated with
to escape. early marriages.
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127.
FIN
Death penalty An official study in December found that 43.5 per cent
Ten death sentences for ordinary crimes were of women in Finland were victims of physical or sexual
commuted by presidential clemency in September. violence or threats of violence by men.
Several other death sentences for alleged politically
related violent crimes were still in force. There were no Trafficking in human beings
executions. Under the 2005 national action plan against trafficking,
a detailed system for aiding and protecting victims of
AI country reports/visits trafficking was devised, but funding remained
Report uncertain. A special residence permit for victims of
• Ethiopia: Prisoners of conscience on trial for trafficking was created under the Aliens Act, but the
treason – opposition party leaders, human rights granting of permits to victims was ordinarily
defenders and journalists (AI Index: AFR conditional on their co-operation with the authorities.
25/013/2006) Finland ratified the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress
Visit and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women
An AI observer attended the CUD trial in October. and Children, and signed the Council of Europe
Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human
Beings.
Asylum
Accelerated asylum-determination procedures under
the Aliens Act allowed too short a time for claims to be
considered thoroughly and for asylum-seekers to
exhaust all avenues of appeal.
An increasing number of people were granted
FINLAND temporary residence permits, resulting in a
corresponding increase in the number denied the right
to work or family reunification, and allowed only
restricted access to education and social and health
REPUBLIC OF FINLAND care.
Head of state: Tarja Halonen
Head of government: Matti Vanhanen Unfair residence permit procedures
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes Residence permits were denied solely on the basis of
International Criminal Court: ratified information from the security police withheld from the
applicant. However, in June, Kuopio Administrative
Court quashed a refusal to grant a residence permit
Conscientious objectors to military service were because the immigration authorities had refused to
imprisoned. disclose to the applicant information provided by the
security police, denying him a fair hearing. An appeal
Conscientious objection to military service by the authorities to the Supreme Administrative Court
The length of the civilian alternative to military service was pending.
remained punitive and discriminatory. Conscientious b In January, Pakistani national Qari Muzaffar Iqbal
objectors were obliged to perform 395 days of civilian Naeemi was granted asylum. In 2002 his request for a
service, 215 days longer than military service. In renewal of his residence permit had been denied. In
October a Ministry of Labour working group proposed 2003 his deportation had been ordered on the basis of
shortening the civilian service and recognizing information that remained undisclosed.
conscientious objection in times of war or other public
emergency.
b AI considered 11 imprisoned conscientious
objectors to military service to be prisoners of
conscience. Most served sentences of 197 days for
refusing to perform alternative civilian service.
Violence against women
In January the Minister of Social Affairs and Health
admitted to AI the need for increased co-ordination
among government ministries and for the creation of
an action plan on preventing violence against women.
No such plan had been produced by the end of 2006.
An updated AI survey in May found that Finnish
municipalities lacked the political will, co-ordination,
expertise and resources to eradicate violence against
women, although a few were doing pioneering work.
Amnesty International Report 2007 117

128.
FRA
FRANCE Despite measures taken by the state towards
improving its response to the issue of domestic
violence, co-ordination and resources remained
inadequate. The procedures for women trying to get
FRENCH REPUBLIC access to justice were slow and complex. Foreign
Head of state: Jacques Chirac women faced specific additional difficulties, including
Head of government: Dominique de Villepin social isolation and a fear of losing residence rights.
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
International Criminal Court: ratified Asylum and immigration
The government proposed further restrictions on the
rights of asylum-seekers, even though the number of
Reports of police misconduct, including ill-treatment, asylum applications in 2006 fell by 40 per cent
continued. Ethnic minorities, migrants and asylum- compared with the previous year.
seekers were particularly vulnerable to such abuse. A Albania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Niger and Tanzania
new immigration law restricted the rights of were added to the list of 12 “safe” countries from which
migrants. Racist, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic asylum-seekers are dealt with under a fast-track
attacks continued. Six former Guantánamo Bay procedure with reduced protection and no social
detainees went on trial for terrorism-related charges, support. Appeals lodged under this system do not lead
but the case was suspended. to the suspension of expulsion proceedings. Following
criticism from non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
Police ill-treatment and impunity including AI, the government abandoned moves to
Incidents of abuse by police officers continued to be reduce from one month to 15 days the time allowed to
reported. The National Commission on Ethics and appeal against a rejected asylum application.
Security (Commission Nationale de Déontologie de la A new immigration law, under which irregular
Sécurité, CNDS) reported in April that complaints of migrants will no longer benefit from automatic
police misconduct in 2005 had risen by 10 per cent over regularization of status after 10 years’ residency in
the previous year, particularly in relation to minors, France, was passed in July despite strong popular
asylum-seekers and migrants. The internal police opposition. Regularization will now take place on a
disciplinary body reported a 14.5 per cent increase in case-by-case basis. Family reunification applications
the number of sanctions issued against police officers will be allowed after 18 months (previously one year)
in 2005 compared with 2004. and applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial
b On 17 August Albertine Sow, who was six months means to support family members wishing to join them.
pregnant, was violently handled and punched by police For migrants entering France specifically to work,
when she asked what was happening during a violent different forms of residence permits will be granted
arrest of two young men in Paris. A relative of the young according to the length of contract and level of
men also tried to intervene. The situation deteriorated professional skill in order to support the programme of
and both the relative and Albertine Sow were hit by “selective immigration”. A special three-year permit
police batons on the head and ribs. Albertine Sow will be created for “highly qualified” immigrants. In
lodged a complaint with the disciplinary body of the other cases, residence permits will be limited to the
Paris police on 19 August, supported by numerous duration of the holder’s work contract. As loss of
witnesses. The same weekend, a judicial proceeding employment would lead to the risk of expulsion, some
was opened into the incident alleging a group assault migrants will face heightened risk of exploitative
on the police. working conditions. Foreign residents convicted of
b Following his intervention in the violent arrest of a “rebellion” (resisting arrest) may have their 10-year
stranger in Montpellier, Brice Petit was convicted in residence permit replaced with a one-year permit,
2005 of defamation for insulting a police officer, but renewable annually. The offence of “rebellion” is
acquitted of other charges. In March 2006 the Court of extremely broad and is commonly cited in
Appeal in Montpellier confirmed his acquittal. The controversial arrests or as a counter-charge to
same month, a complaint Brice Petit had lodged against accusations of police misconduct.
the police for their violent treatment of him during Expulsions of illegal immigrants continued, totalling
arrest was closed without action. some 24,000 by the end of the year. In June the Minister
of the Interior offered financial assistance to families
Violence against women fulfilling certain criteria, such as having children in
Violence against women remained widespread, with school, to return voluntarily to their country of origin
official data indicating that on average one woman died and a review of their migration status if they declined
every four days as a result of violence by her partner. such aid.
More than half of the women killed had been the victims b On 28 September, three police officers appeared
of domestic violence on previous occasions. It was before the Magistrates’ Court in Bobigny charged with
reported that almost one in 10 women in France suffered involuntary manslaughter for the death in January 2003
domestic violence. Other hidden but persistent forms of of Getu Hagos Mariame, an Ethiopian national whose
gender-based violence included forced marriage, and asylum application had been rejected. He died in
the trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution. hospital after being forcibly restrained by police
118 Amnesty International Report 2007

129.
FRA
officers accompanying his expulsion. The officers ranking officials from the secret services and Ministry
allegedly used such force that they blocked the arterial of Foreign Affairs. A new trial was due to start in
blood flow to his brain. The officers were suspended May 2007.
from duty for 10 months but were later readmitted to Rendition flights
the border patrol police. In November, the senior A report of AI’s investigations into secret rendition
officer involved was convicted of involuntary homicide flights by the USA in the “war on terror”, published in
and given a six-month suspended sentence. The other April, contained information on six flights suspected to
two officers involved were acquitted. have landed or made stopovers at French airports. The
information cast further doubt on claims by the French
Racism and discrimination authorities that they had been unaware of such flights.
Racist, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic attacks A preliminary inquiry on this matter was opened
continued to be a problem. In March the National following a complaint lodged by two NGOs in December
Consultative Human Rights Commission (CNCDH) 2005, but the public prosecutor closed the inquiry in
reported a 38 per cent decrease in racist threats and August, saying that it was not possible to gather
attacks during the previous year, although a national information on the identity of passengers of the flights
survey revealed an increase in racist attitudes. in question.
Mosques were vandalized in Carcassonne and Quimper Anti-terrorism law
at the beginning of Ramadan. Law 2006-64, which was passed in January, gives
b In February a young Jewish man, Ilan Halimi, was custodial judges the authority to order up to two
kidnapped in Paris by a gang and held for ransom for additional 24-hour extensions of police custody in
three weeks before being tortured to death. The terrorism cases – in addition to the two 24-hour
suspected gang leader said they had chosen Ilan Halimi extensions already permitted – where there is believed
because he was Jewish and therefore assumed to be to be a serious risk of an imminent terrorist attack or
rich. The event sparked protests involving tens of where international co-operation is necessary to the
thousands of demonstrators in Paris and across the investigation. The new law means that a detainee may
country. Anti-Semitic attacks followed the be held for six days before appearing before a judge.
demonstrations. Suspects have access to a lawyer after 72 hours, 96
hours and 120 hours.
Poor prison conditions
Prison conditions remained poor. A report by the Death penalty
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights In January, following a 2005 decision by the
strongly criticized conditions inside prisons and noted Constitutional Council that France’s ratification of the
chronic overcrowding. The Minister of Justice stated in International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
July that the prison population had reached almost required a constitutional reform, President Jacques
60,000, although the number of prisoners held in pre- Chirac announced his intention to amend the
trial detention had significantly fallen. Constitution to reflect the prohibition of the death
penalty in all circumstances. Such a measure would
Restriction on freedom of expression also enable France to become party to the Covenant’s
On 12 October parliament adopted a bill that would Second Optional Protocol, aimed at total abolition of
make it a crime to contest that the massacres of the death penalty.
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 constituted
genocide. The new crime would be punishable by up to AI country reports/visits
five years’ imprisonment and a fine. The bill was Reports
awaiting approval by the Senate and the President. • France: Violence against women – a matter for the
state (AI Index: EUR 21/001/2006)
‘War on terror’ concerns • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
Guantánamo Bay detainees International’s concerns in the region, January-June
Six former detainees at the US military base in 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
Guantánamo Bay went on trial in France for alleged
“criminal conspiracy in relation to a terrorist
enterprise”. The six, all French nationals, were
captured in Afghanistan in 2001 and transferred to
Guantánamo Bay. In 2004 and 2005 they were released
to France, where they subsequently spent an average of
18 months in remand detention. The men had been
interviewed in Guantánamo Bay in 2002 by French
secret service agents. Although the information
gathered was not presented at the trial in France, the
men’s lawyers said that it had triggered the judicial
investigation. The court, which had been due to deliver
its judgment in September, asked for further
investigations, including the questioning of high-
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GAMBIA 8 December. Two other detainees were charged with
ancillary crimes, one of whom reportedly had the
charges against him dropped in November and was
released. On 28 July it was reported that another seven
REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA detainees, including Abdoulie Kujabi, a former Director
Head of state and government: Yahya Jammeh General of the NIA, had been charged with conspiracy
Death penalty: abolitionist in practice to commit treason. Their trial had not started by the
International Criminal Court: ratified end of 2006 and one of them was reportedly released
on 8 December.
On 18 July, several defence lawyers reportedly
More than 70 civilians and members of the military, withdrew from one case, citing concerns about the
including prisoners of conscience, were unlawfully independence of the judge. Some detainees were
detained after an alleged coup attempt in late denied access to their lawyers. At least four military
March. Several journalists and editors were also defendants in the treason trial were transferred to a
unlawfully detained for many weeks. At least 12 court martial, where their statements suggested that
detainees were reportedly tortured. Trials of confessions had been obtained under duress or
suspected coup plotters were continuing in military torture.
and civilian courts at the end of the year. Five
people who allegedly escaped may have been Suspected extrajudicial executions
extrajudicially executed. Repression of the right to The authorities alleged that former NIA Director
freedom of expression intensified. General Daba Marena and four soldiers – Ebou Lowe,
Alieu Cessay, Alpha Bah and Malafi Corr – escaped
Background during a prison transfer around 4 April. There were
In September President Jammeh won presidential fears that they had in fact been extrajudicially executed
elections. or become victims of enforced disappearance. No
independent investigation into the alleged escape had
Unlawful detentions and torture been initiated by the end of the year.
After an alleged coup attempt in late March, more
than 70 people were unlawfully detained for longer Freedom of expression
than the 72 hours allowed by Gambian law. Among At least nine Gambian and foreign journalists and
those held by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) editors were detained, and some were reportedly
were prisoners of conscience, lawyers, journalists, tortured. Harassment and threats against journalists,
editors, civilians, military and security personnel, editors and media critical of the government
and politicians. intensified.
On 27 March suspects reportedly dressed in military b On 28 March, Musa Saidykhan, editor of The
uniform appeared on national television “confessing” Independent, and Madi Ceesay, managing director,
to involvement in a coup attempt. were arrested and the newspaper’s premises were
Some of the detainees were held incommunicado for closed. The two men were held incommunicado at the
several weeks at the NIA headquarters and the Mile 2 NIA headquarters until 20 April, when they were
prison, where at least 12 were allegedly tortured or ill- released without charge and without an official reason
treated. The number of those still held at the end of for their detention. The newspaper remained closed at
2006 was not clear. the end of the year.
b Mariam Denton, a lawyer and prisoner of b On 10 April, Lamin Fatty, a reporter with The
conscience, was detained on 6 April and unlawfully held Independent, was detained at the NIA headquarters in
in Mile 2 prison for over three months. Although her connection with the coup attempt. He was held
lawyers’ application for access was granted by the High incommunicado for over two months. In May, he was
Court on 25 April, the prison authorities denied access charged with publishing false information. His trial was
until after 10 May. She was released without charge on continuing at the end of the year.
25 July after a failed attempt by the prosecutor to have b On 25 May the online Freedom Newspaper had its
her charged with concealment of treason. web-site hacked into, and a list of over 300 names of
At least 12 detainees were allegedly tortured. Some alleged “informers” was published in a pro-government
reportedly had their heads covered with plastic bags or newspaper. At least four journalists were subsequently
were held under water for long periods. Others were arrested but were released without charge. One
reportedly burned with cigarettes or severely beaten. journalist was held incommunicado at the NIA
headquarters for almost five months before being
Trials after alleged coup attempt released without charge.
Preliminary hearings began in the High Court in Banjul
on 10 May for 15 defendants detained in relation to the Impunity
coup attempt. Charges, including treason and There were no official investigations into past human
concealment of treason, all of which are capital and rights violations. The government did not bring to
non-bailable offences, were made public in late justice those responsible for the assassination of
May. One defendant was reportedly released on journalist Deyda Hydara in December 2004.
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AI country reports/visits b In January officers of the Interior Ministry severely
Statement beat and otherwise ill-treated Sandro Girgvliani and his
• Gambia: Alleged coup plot must not be used as friend Levan Bukhaidze on the outskirts of Tbilisi. Levan
excuse to violate citizens’ human rights (AI Index: Bukhaidze was abandoned and managed to get back to
AFR 27/004/2006) the city. Sandro Girgvliani died as a result of injuries he
sustained and was found near a local cemetery the next
day. In July, four officers were sentenced to prison
terms for causing his death. However, no impartial
investigation was opened into allegations that those
who killed Sandro Girgvliani had acted on the orders of
senior officials of the Interior Ministry, it was reported.
In May the UN Committee against Torture called on
the authorities to introduce regular monitoring by an
GEORGIA independent oversight body of human rights violations
by police and prison personnel; to strengthen
investigative capacity to ensure allegations of torture
or other ill-treatment were investigated promptly and
GEORGIA thoroughly; and to promptly inform all detainees of
Head of state: Mikheil Saakashvili their rights to counsel and to be examined by a medical
Head of government: Zurab Noghaideli doctor of their own choice. The Committee also
Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes recommended legislation on reparation for victims of
International Criminal Court: ratified abuse and in the meantime practical measures to
provide redress, fair and adequate compensation, and
rehabilitation.
Pre-trial and convicted prisoners were reportedly ill- Investigation-isolation facilities and prisons
treated on several occasions, and excessive force was In several instances, ill-treatment and excessive force
reportedly used in prison disturbances in which at were allegedly used against inmates of investigation-
least eight detainees died and many more were isolation facilities and prisons. However, only in the
wounded, including special forces officers. Police case of disturbances in Tbilisi in March was there an
officers continued to enjoy impunity in dozens of official investigation, which did not start until June and
cases in which torture, ill-treatment and excessive had not made its results public by the end of 2006.
use of force have been alleged. The authorities failed b On 27 March special police and prison forces
to protect women from domestic violence or bring its entered the Investigation-Isolation Prison No. 5 in
perpetrators to justice. A new law on domestic Tbilisi to suppress an allegedly orchestrated armed riot
violence was a positive step, although it postponed and attempted break-out. The operation left at least
the setting up of urgently needed temporary shelters seven inmates dead and many others wounded,
for women and children. The internationally including special forces officers. The same day
unrecognized breakaway areas of Abkhazia and President Mikheil Saakashvili and senior officials
South Ossetia retained the death penalty. Civil denied allegations that excessive force had been used.
society activists in South Ossetia risked harassment Unofficial reports suggested that the special forces had
because of contacts with Georgian activists. been sent in to suppress a spontaneous protest over
abuses of prison hospital inmates by a senior prison
Torture, ill-treatment and excessive force official and special forces during the night of 26 to 27
The government’s two-year Plan of Action against March. It was also alleged that they did not attempt
Torture, which expired in December 2005, was not non-violent means to establish control, but
extended although many recommendations by a range immediately fired automatic weapons and rubber
of international human rights bodies remained bullets and beat detainees with truncheons. Many of
unimplemented. These included recommendations the injured reportedly did not receive adequate
made by the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and medical treatment. In some cases, doctors only
other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or obtained access to detainees following interventions
punishment, the UN Committee against Torture, and by the Ombudsman.
the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Violence against women in the family
In a positive move in April, parliament removed any Violence against women by their partners and former
time limit on the period in which charges could be partners included verbal and psychological abuse,
brought for the crimes of torture, threat of torture, and physical and sexual violence, and killings. Most
inhuman and degrading treatment. frequently, women were beaten, hit and kicked, but
Investigations were opened into allegations of police they were also burned with cigarettes, had their heads
torture or ill-treatment in dozens of cases. Five officers bashed against walls, or were raped.
were sentenced to prison terms of between three and The authorities did not gather comprehensive
seven years. Investigations were allegedly not statistics on domestic violence. A study by the non-
thorough or impartial in at least some cases. governmental Caucasus Women’s Research and
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Consulting Network reported that 5.2 per cent of Death penalty
women had experienced frequent physical abuse by South Ossetia continued a moratorium on death
their partner, adding to the data produced by UN sentences and executions. Abkhazia had a moratorium
Population Fund studies in Georgia in 1999 and 2005 on executions only. Two prisoners were on death row in
which found that 5 per cent of women reported physical Abkhazia. Reportedly, at least 16 people had been
abuse. sentenced to death in Abkhazia since the early 1990s.
Among obstacles to eradicating domestic violence In June the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
were the widespread impunity enjoyed by its Europe (PACE), in recommendations on the death
perpetrators, and insufficient measures and services to penalty in Council of Europe member and observer
protect victims such as temporary shelters and states, stated that the death penalty should be
adequate, safe housing. The authorities also failed to abolished in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and that all
ensure a functioning cross-referral system between death sentences in Abkhazia should be immediately
health workers, crisis centres, legal aid centres, and law commuted to bring an end to the state of uncertainty
enforcement authorities, or to provide mandatory suffered by prisoners on death row for years.
government training programmes for police,
procurators, judges and medical staff. AI country reports/visits
The adoption by parliament in May of a new law on Reports
domestic violence was an important step in meeting the • Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty
government’s obligations to prevent abuses and International’s concerns in the region, January-June
protect survivors. The law introduced a definition of 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
domestic violence in domestic legislation, and a legal • Commonwealth of Independent States: Positive
basis for issuing protection and restraint orders. trend on the abolition of the death penalty but more
However, implementation of the provision for needs to be done (AI Index: EUR 04/003/2006)
temporary shelters for victims of domestic violence • Georgia: Briefing to the Committee against Torture
was postponed until 2008. Also, a plan outlining (AI Index: EUR 56/005/2006)
measures and activities necessary to implement the • Georgia: Thousands suffering in silence – Violence
law, which should have been approved within four against women in the family (AI Index: EUR
months of the law’s publication, had not been approved 56/009/2006)
by the end of 2006. Visits
In August the UN Committee on the Elimination of In January AI delegates met senior government officials
Discrimination against Women was concerned that the and key policy makers in Georgia to discuss torture and
provision of the new domestic violence law to set up other ill-treatment. In April an AI delegate conducted a
shelters for women and children had been postponed, research visit.
that there was a lack of official data on domestic
violence, and that domestic violence may still be lence – Violence against women in the family (AI Index:
considered a private matter. The Committee urged that EUR 56/009/2006)Violen
a national action plan to combat domestic violence be
completed and implemented, and recommended that a
properly resourced mechanism be given the necessary
powers to promote gender equality and monitor its
practical realization. It also recommended
strengthening the protection of victims; data
collection, research and evaluation of measures taken;
training; and public awareness raising. GERMANY
Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Freedom of expression at risk FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
In June the mother of civil society activist Alan Head of state: Horst Köhler
Dzhusoity was dismissed from her job as head mistress Head of government: Angela Merkel
of a school in Tskhinval/Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, in an Death penalty: abolitionist for all crimes
apparent attempt by the authorities of South Ossetia to International Criminal Court: ratified
put pressure on her son to end his contacts with
Georgian civil society organizations. Several days later,
Alan Dzhusoity and fellow activists Alan Parastaev and Germany was implicated in abuses linked to the US-
Timur Tskhovrebov, in a television discussion in Tbilisi, led “war on terror”. Asylum laws left refugees whose
called for an independent South Ossetia, peace and status had been withdrawn vulnerable to
dialogue between South Ossetians and Georgians, and deportation to unsafe countries.
acknowledgement by Georgia that the South Ossetian
population had a right to self-determination. Eduard Background
Kokoity, the de facto President of South Ossetia, In September Germany signed the Optional Protocol to
subsequently summoned civil society activists and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
warned them against contact with Georgians. Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
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Renditions German soldiers who helped guard the prison in
The authorities failed to hold anyone responsible for Kandahar confirmed that there had been a German-
Germany’s involvement in the USA’s programme of speaking detainee there.
secret detentions and renditions – the unlawful b In November the German Federal Court of Justice
transfer of people between states outside of any found Moroccan citizen Mounir el-Motassadeq guilty
judicial process. of being an accessory to murder on 246 counts in
b In May, a parliamentary committee of inquiry connection with the attacks on the World Trade
decided to investigate the case of German citizen Center in New York on 11 September 2001. He was
Muhammad Zammar. He was apprehended in Morocco sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In June
in December 2001, allegedly by Moroccan security 2005, the Hamburg Supreme Court had ruled that
services, and subsequently transferred to Syria, evidence possibly obtained under torture or cruel,
reportedly on a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) inhuman or degrading treatment was admissible in
plane. He was reportedly tortured in the Palestine the retrial, a ruling that breached international law.
Branch (Far’ Falastin) of Military Intelligence in
Damascus, the Syrian capital. In November 2002, a Universal jurisdiction
delegation of German intelligence and law In March, the German Attorney General decided not to
enforcement officials interrogated Muhammad Zammar prosecute the former Uzbekistani Minister of Internal
in Syria for three days. Even though he was detained Affairs Zokir Almatov, who was reportedly one of the
without access to family, a lawyer or German embassy commanders of the security forces responsible for a
officials, the delegation did nothing to help him and mass killing in the Uzbekistani city of Andizhan in May
failed to inform the German embassy or his family 2005. Zokir Almatov had already fled Germany, where
about his situation. In October 2006 Muhammad he had been receiving medical treatment, after he was
Zammar was apparently charged by Syria’s Supreme alerted to an attempt to persuade the federal
State Security Court, including with offences related to prosecutor to open a criminal investigation against him
membership of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. If under Germany’s Code of Crimes against International
convicted, he could face the death penalty. At the end Law. This law allows courts to exercise universal
of 2006 he was reportedly held in Sednaya prison on jurisdiction in cases of alleged crimes against humanity,
the outskirts of Damascus. Germany had not held to war crimes or genocide, irrespective of where they
account anyone responsible, directly or indirectly, for were committed or the nationality of the accused and
any human rights violations suffered by Muhammad the victims.
Zammar. In November a criminal complaint was filed against
b In May the same parliamentary committee of the US former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
inquiry began looking into the case of Khaled el- and other high-ranking US officials for alleged crimes
Masri, a German citizen who was detained in under international law committed in Iraq and at
Macedonia in December 2003, handed to US officials, Guantánamo Bay. The complaint was based on the Code
and later secretly flown to Afghanistan via Iraq. In of Crimes again